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# Alabama National Guard readies for hurricane season

By Courtesy Story

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama National Guard has responded to many hurricanes in its history. In order to respond quickly and effectively, the Alabama Guard still rehearses hurricane response annually.

That was the case Sunday, when Guard members from units across the state gathered at the Alabama National Guard headquarters for a rehearsal of concept (ROC) drill to practice the hurricane operations response plan.

Coordinating agencies also took part in the rehearsal, including staff members of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and U.S. Northern Command.

"The EMA and Alabama National Guard's relationship is seamless," said Jeff Byard, AEMA Executive Operations Officer. "All I have to do is ask and the National Guard responds. The Alabama National Guard is the best in the nation — EMA could not do what they do without them."

The rehearsal includes Alabama National Guard Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) staff members and individual unit actions to prepare for a hurricane response.

The event covers pre-hurricane season activities, hurricane approach through landfall, and beyond. This ensures that Guard members fully understand the response plan at all levels and synchronize actions from the JFHQ level down to the unit level in response to a hurricane.

The rehearsal is a precursor to a weeklong hurricane exercise to be conducted in May. Guardsmen briefed from two lecterns standing on the panhandle of Florida on a map that took up the entire drill hall floor. Other Soldiers used placards to show where their respective units would provide a particular asset at a particular time during response as a 4-foot-wide hurricane symbol approached and then landed on the map that spanned 40 feet wide and 85 feet long.

"This is an exciting event," said Brig. Gen. Allen Harrell, Alabama National Guard director of the joint staff. "I am pleased with how good we have gotten — we are synchronized and coordinated in our expected missions. I am convinced that if we can get our soldiers mobilized and to the point of need, that we can effectively accomplish the mission."

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