Contact: Kristin Devoe, Kristin.Devoe@dhses.ny.gov, (518) 242-5153

June 24, 2015

VIDEO & PHOTOS: BOMB SQUADS AND TACTICAL TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN ‘RAVEN’S CHALLENGE’ EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING

Local, state, federal, and international teams train at State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, boosting local economy and preparing responders for emergencies

This week, groups from New York and several states, federal entities, and Canada are participating in the Raven’s Challenge emergency response training at the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC) in Oriskany, NY.

The Challenge is designed to help bomb squads, explosive detection canine teams, and tactical teams improve communication and coordination skills, which are critical in the event of an emergency that involves an explosive device.

The event is hosted by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), coordinated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

VIDEO that can be used for b-roll in newscasts or on websites is available on YouTube here and in TV-quality format here.

PHOTOS that can be used in publications or on websites are available
here.

Quick facts:

·       The SPTC in Oriskany is one of only four sites nationwide (other host sites include locations in Florida, Colorado, and Washington) to host Raven’s Challenge activities.

·       The activities help to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to benefit the local economy.

·       The SPTC, a 1,100-acre state-of-the-art facility, was chosen as a Raven’s Challenge host for its diverse training environments that give state, local, and federal agencies various venues that can be used for the entire spectrum of training.

·       Law enforcement and military personnel are combined to form response teams, which participate in improvised explosive device operations in various scenarios throughout the course.

·       New York State is home to more than a dozen FBI-accredited bomb squads, including a squad operated by the New York State Police.

·       DHSES has provided more than $13 million in homeland security grant funding to local bomb squads to enhance their capabilities.

·       The exercise runs Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26.


About DHSES
The
Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) and its four offices -- Counter Terrorism, Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable and Emergency Communications -- provide leadership, coordination and support for efforts to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other man-made and natural disasters, threats, fires and other emergencies. For more information, visit the DHSES Facebook page, follow @NYSDHSES on Twitter, or visit dhses.ny.gov.

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