Local Emergency Planners Join Navy Earthquake Drill

Local emergency planners joined Naval Air Station Fallon last week for Citadel Rumble, the U.S. Navy’s annual all-hazard exercise designed to test readiness, response, and recovery capabilities. The week-long training, held at Navy installations nationwide, simulates emergency scenarios from natural disasters to security incidents.

This year’s drill in Fallon focused on earthquake response and strengthening communication between military personnel, civilian staff, and local emergency services. Managers from the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) activated the Emergency Operations Center on South Maine Street and set up their recently acquired mobile Starlink unit.

Steve Endacott, City of Fallon’s emergency manager, and Rich Ingram, Churchill County’s emergency manager, said the exercise was a good test of their systems. They also invited Bob Clifford from the Amateur Radio Emergency Services to set up his HAM radio operation, with another operator assigned to the base.

Managers attempted to contact their counterparts at NAS Fallon using multiple methods: satellite phone, cell phone, landline, and HAM radio. 

“We tried all frequencies and all our phones. We used four different methods to talk,” Endacott said. “The only things we didn’t do is use smoke signals and flashing lights,” he joked.

The mobile Starlink system comes with solar panels, adapters, and tripods to make it fully off-grid, Ingram said. During the drill, the LEPC managers used the Starlink connection to communicate with the NAS Fallon Emergency Operations Center by cell phone and also exchanged messages over HAM radio. The goal was to test communication methods that work without standard networks or power.

Ingram said the LEPC received the Starlink mobile unit and accessories last month. Purchased with grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the unit is available for use by all area stakeholders in the event of an emergency.

Citadel Rumble is organized by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and emphasizes coordination with local agencies. “By rehearsing complex response plans, the Navy ensures that when real emergencies occur, they are met with swift, coordinated, and effective action,” Gavin Graham, Public Affairs Officer said.