News Release Archive

Media Advisory: Reclamation Conducts Full Scale Emergency Exercise at Shasta Dam

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr,gov

For Release: November 10, 2010

Special Request to Editors and News Directors: The information in this advisory is for your information only, for planning and scheduling purposes. While the participating agencies know the general schedule for the exercise, participants do not know specifics. This ensures a more realistic training experience. In deference to that, please do not broadcast or print the planned exercise start time or event details. The schedule has been provided for your use and convenience.

On Wednesday, November 17, 2010, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Bureau of Reclamation will be conducting a 12-hour full scale emergency exercise at Shasta Dam. The purpose of the security-based exercise is to establish a learning environment for local, state and federal first responders and to employ emergency response and security plans, policies, and procedures as they pertain to a potential emergency at the dam. Subject matter experts and local representatives from law enforcement, emergency management agencies and medical facilities will all be participating.

Who:

Federal Agencies

- Bureau of Reclamation - National Park Service - Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Federal Bureau of Investigation - Department of Homeland Security - Bureau of Land Management

State Agencies

- California Highway Patrol - CAL EMA - Cal Fire - CalTrans - Central California Intelligence Center - Sacramento Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Center - California Department of Fish and Game

Private - Cal Water

Local Agencies - American Medical Response - Chenega Security - Mercy Medical Center- Redding - Redding Police Department - Shasta County Health and Human Services/Public Health - Shasta County Sheriff's Department - Shascom - Shasta Regional Medical Center - Tehama County Sheriff's Office

What: Media Briefing/Orientation of Emergency Exercise at Shasta Dam

When: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Where: Shasta Dam Visitor Center Auditorium, 16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, CA (at Shasta Dam)

Following the briefing there will be an opportunity to witness several events scheduled as part of the training exercise. Interviews with exercise controllers and local spokespersons will be arranged. Due to security and safety concerns associated with the training exercise, certain exercise training events are closed to the media and the public.

Credentialed media should contact the Bureau of Reclamation if they are interested in attending. All participants must preregister if they plan on attending the media briefing to obtain clearance. Only those individuals with prior clearance will be permitted into the exercise area during the event.

Media who are interested in covering this event should contact Sheri Harral, Bureau of Reclamation, Public Affairs Specialist, at 530-276-2030 (TTY 530-275-8991), or e-mail sharral@usbr.gov, no later than November 12, 2010.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.