Farwell officer helps simulate nuclear attack

By Dona Fair

“There’s just been a terrorist attack of a 10-ton nuclear device explosion in downtown Indianapolis, and the surviving town on the outskirts needs immediate emergency aid response,” was the call that jolted the daughter of a Farwell woman into action.
    Luckily for Army 2nd Lt. Elissa N. Harripersad, daughter of Joy and stepdaughter of Tim Krabill of North Road, Farwell, the call wasn’t for a real terrorist attack, but for a federal emergency response exercise called “Vibrant Response.” The weeklong exercise simulated a terrorist nuclear attack in the United States, and required our nation’s military from all services, along with local and state first responders to quickly be put into action.
    Harripersad was one of more than 4,000 military and civilian participants who recently converged on Camp Atterbury’s Joint Maneuver Training Center, along with the nearby Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, and its surrounding communities in southern Indiana to test their emergency response capabilities.
    “I am currently serving as the executive officer of an area support medical company, supporting joint task force operations,” said Harripersad, a field medical assistant with the 581st Area Support Medical Company, Fort Hood, Texas.
      With an underground tunnel system, nine miles of roads, and more than 120-plus buildings, which included a hospital, nursing home, parking garages, power plant, schools, and a police station, Muscatatuck was the perfect location for this training event.
           “Our company prepared for three months prior to this exercise doing company field training exercises and platoon and squad situational exercises,” said Harripersad, who graduated in 2000 from Chippewa Hills High School, Mich., and earned a bachelor’s degree in 2008 from Tarleton State University through the military extension program at Fort Hood.
      When a natural disaster occurs, local city and county first responders are the first on the scene.  But an event like a nuclear detonation would quickly require regional and national responders to assist.
      For Harripersad and the others, an exercise like “Vibrant Response” allows everyone to work out any kinks that may arise at an inopportune time during a real disaster.  Valuable lessons were learned each day including communication, logistical, and coordination issues.  It also helps Harripersad and the others understand how federal, local and state agencies become one to complete a mission of this magnitude.
      “This exercise is preparing us for potential real world disaster and terrorism events in the United States,” said Harripersad, who has been in the military for nine years.
      Hopefully for Harripersad and all of the participants, lessons learned during “Vibrant Response” will never have to be used.  But in case they do get that call one day, they will be prepared to respond.