NYC OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO HOST A MAJOR MULTI-AGENCY FIELD EXERCISE AT MASPETH RAIL YARD IN QUEENS, NY
The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will host TRIFECTA, a major multi-agency field exercise, at the Maspeth Rail Yard, located at Maspeth Avenue and Rust Street, on Sunday, March 26, 2006. The exercise will begin at 10 a.m. and is anticipated to conclude at 4 p.m. TRIFECTA is part of the City's continuing efforts to test and refine its preparedness plans and emergency response protocols.
This exercise will allow OEM to assess the effectiveness of emergency operations plans, and identify means for improving the City's capacity to respond to a terrorist incident within the NYC public transit system. Scenario details are kept confidential prior to the exercise to ensure a realistic response from participating agency personnel.
Site setup, including the use of light towers, will begin at midnight on the 26th and continue through the exercise's 10 a.m. start time. All exercise activities, including site cleanup, may terminate as late as 6 p.m., March 26.
During the exercise, a large number of police, fire and other emergency vehicles will be present, as well as significant numbers of exercise participants. Heavier than normal congestion and traffic flow interruption should be expected on Rust Street between Flushing Avenue to 43rd Street throughout the exercise.
NYPD will have officers assigned at the major intersections to direct traffic and may restrict traffic on some streets while emergency vehicles are deployed from nearby staging areas to the exercise site. Maspeth Avenue from Rust Street to 49th Street will be closed to all traffic during the exercise.
Noises and flashes from mock explosions may be visible in the rail yard area as the exercise scenario unfolds. Any noises or flashes are planned and should not be cause for alarm. Response personnel may be wearing hazardous material protective clothing ("moon suits"), and may be working with environmental monitoring equipment. These activities are simulations only. No actual hazardous substance will be used and there is no threat to public safety.
Regular police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services will not be impacted. Participating agencies will maintain normal staffing levels throughout the exercise and remain capable of handling all routine operations.
Residents may call 311 or visit NYC.gov/oem for more information about the exercise's impact on the local area.
Press contact: Jarrod Bernstein/Andrew Troisi (718) 422-4888
News and Events > Press Releases > PODEX - June 2, 2005
