Pathfinders Task Force 2015

Year in Review

2015 was a year of unprecedented activity for the Pathfinders Task Force (PTF). The response to (Category 4) Hurricane Joaquin in the Bahamas was the most efficient PTF deployment to date, and 8 full-scale exercises in one year is a new record for our team.

PTF and Royal Bahamas Defense Force Damage Assessment Operations on Long Island, Bahamas

In October, Hurricane Joaquin impacted the Bahamas as a Category 4 storm. The Bahamas National Emergency Management Agency requested a Type IV PTF team to deploy with a focus on impacted island chains. PTF’s major objectives during the response to Hurricane Joaquin were:

• Assist with emergency evacuation operations
• Identify and document the severity of impact on affected islands
• Make contact with local island administrators to coordinate response operations
• Manage incoming emergency relief supplies at PTF Logistic Staging Area
• Manage the distribution of emergency relief supplies to affected islands
• Establish Points of Distribution on affected islands to distribute relief supplies
• Conduct door-to-door operations to resolve unmet needs of homebound survivors
• Assist Engineers with detailed damage assessments

PTF loading emergency relief supplies onto Royal Bahamas Defense Force boat during the response to Hurricane Joaquin

In addition to the response to Hurricane Joaquin, PTF participated in eight exercises to improve disaster preparedness for various agencies.

• US Air Force Polaris Warrior
• South Florida Search & Rescue Exercise (SOFLEX)
• Guardian 2015 Full-Scale Exercise
• Northern Exposure Full-Scale Exercise
• Florida WARN Exercise
• Broward County Hurricane Gibson Exercise
• Haiti Ministry of Environment Environmental Hazards Full-Scale Exercise
• Haiti Wildfire Operations Full-Scale Exercises

Exercise Polaris Warrior is the United States Air Force Cadet Wing annual culminating event designed to evaluate cadet capabilities while instilling unit pride and inspiring respect for the US Air Force expeditionary mission and heritage. PTF assisted the US Air Force Academy with documenting the performance rating of cadet teams as they progressed through Polaris Warrior courses and monitoring the status of remote personnel in real-time.

SOFLEX Search & Rescue Full-Scale Exercise

The SOFLEX Full-Scale exercise is an annual event conducted to improve Urban Search & Rescue techniques for Florida-based Fire Rescue Departments. PTF assisted with the documentation of exercise operations and coordinating operations between two remote exercise sites.

Northern Exposure Full-Scale Exercise

The Northern Exposure Full-Scale exercise was conducted across the State of Michigan and focused on civil unrest preparedness and urban search & rescue operations. PTF assisted exercise administrators by providing the ability to simultaneously monitor exercise operations spread across the state.

2015 Guardian CBRNE Full-Scale Exercise

The Guardian Full-Scale Exercise was focused on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Response and Preparedness. PTF provided a real-time view of exercise operations and documenting the status of simulated patients as they moved through triage.

For more information about the Pathfinders Task Force 2015 Highlights, please visit www.disastersolutions.cc/history.html or contact us at any time.