More than 3,000 first responders from local, state and federal agencies throughout California will take part in this annual event at the three cities. Locally, the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana and the County of Orange, working with the consulting firm EG&G and funded by the money received under the Department of Homeland Security's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), have planned an emergency exercise that will allow Southern California police, fire and medical personnel prepare for their response to an emergency incident.
As an added result, these agencies will also be able to conduct joint information activities, test risk communication procedures, analyze intelligence communications networks and information flow, examine coordination of mass evacuation, mass care and shelter, mutual aid, HAZMAT (hazardous materials) team response, USAR (Urban Search And Rescue) capabilities, mass fatalities and vulnerable population needs. The exercise will also assess private and public partnerships during an emergency response and recovery.
Golden Guardian, created by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2004, is the largest exercise program of its kind in the nation with the goal of better coordinating the activities of city, county and state governments, volunteer organizations, and the private sector to prepare for, respond to and minimize the effects of a manmade of natural emergency.
