The Guam International Airport Authority will test its emergency plans, communications and response capabilities during a triennial full-scale disaster exercise scheduled for Friday, Nov. 13.
According to airport officials, the operations-based simulation is designed to test the airport's Emergency Plan in a “real-time, high-stress environment.”
“Like previous exercises, this FSE will involve the actual mobilization and movement of emergency personnel, vehicles, equipment, and role-played casualties with the full involvement of associated agencies and mutual aid partners,” the airport said in a news release.
Airport Executive Manager John Quinata described the exercise as an opportunity to evaluate and improve emergency response capabilities.
“We can only learn, respond better and improve our emergency response capabilities by executing these types of exercises,” Quinata said.
The exercise is part of the airport's compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations under 14 CFR Part 139, which require airports to conduct a full-scale disaster exercise every three years, according to the airport.
The exercise is not expected to affect normal airport operations or regularly scheduled flights, officials said.
However, motorists traveling near airport property should anticipate "unusually" high emergency response activity, including police vehicles, firefighting trucks, ambulances and federal response vehicles.
“Please plan your routes accordingly and give right of way to responding emergency vehicles,” the airport said.