View photos from last year’s event here
WHO: Bomb squads, explosive detection canine teams, and tactical teams from law enforcement agencies across New York State are participating in the Excelsior Challenge. This event will also include participants from New York military explosive ordnance device units and public safety agencies from Canada. The Excelsior Challenge is also supported by key federal partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF), the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Bombing Prevention (OBP), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
WHAT: Media Day at the Excelsior Challenge. Reporters, photographers, and videographers can view portions of exercises with bomb squads, explosive detection canine teams and tactical teams in a realistic training environment. Members of the media can also tour the State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), a world-class facility that regularly provides scenario-based training for first responders and government officials. Scheduled exercises included in the media availability are a hostage situation within the CityScape facility (a realistic “mini city” that includes a mall, hotel, and bank); a manhunt for a suspect that involves improvised explosive devices; and an event with multiple bombings that requires technical rescue support to rappel bomb technicians to the secondary devices. The event is organized by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) in conjunction with the National Center for Security and Preparedness (NCSP).
WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 2015, 8:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Registration between 8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Media tour of the SPTC, viewing of key exercise sites, and interview opportunities with key officials and experts until 11:00 a.m. Media representatives will be escorted around the facility; additionally, because training exercises are scheduled ahead of time, it is important to arrive promptly for check-in.
WHERE: The New York State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), 5900 Airport Road, Oriskany, N.Y. 13424. Media attendees must RSVP to be admitted to the Excelsior Challenge. Upon arrival, please drive to the main gate, where your name will be on a list with the security guard. You will then be directed to park in the student/visitor lot on the right. After parking, please enter the main Education and Administration Building. Public Information Officers will meet you at check-in, and then escort you through the SPTC to view active training.
WHY: The Excelsior Challenge gives responders the opportunity to test their capabilities in real-world scenarios on the more than 700-acre SPTC facility. In the 14 years since the 9/11 attacks, New York continues to be identified as the most likely target of terrorism in the United States.
RSVP: Due to the sensitive nature of the training and security at the facility, attendees will need to be admitted into the SPTC, making it imperative that media outlets RSVP by Tuesday, September 15. To do so, please contact Kristin Devoe at Kristin.Devoe@dhses.ny.gov or (518) 242-5153 with the names of any reporters, photographers, and videographers planning to attend; the media outlet they represent; and contact information. Credentials will be provided at check-in.
About the SPTC
The State Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), housed within DHSES, affords state, local, and federal agencies a complex of training venues that can be used for the entire spectrum of training. From classroom lectures and discussions to reality- and high-performance scenario-based training, the SPTC offers opportunities for dynamic emergency first responder training.
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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