The Michigan National Guard teamed up with their colleagues from Wisconsin for two days of training at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba. The MING 51st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team worked on responses to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense threat, including hazardous environment procedures.
Captain Deborah Cooshman is a nuclear medical science officer with the Guard. She tells RRN News that these are important training exercises.
“We’re working on giving ourselves a presence in the U.P., not just the Lower Peninsula, where we’re usually training out of,” she said. “So then if an incident did occur, we already have built-in relationships with the different organizations.”
What are some examples?
“The train derailment in Palestine, Ohio (in 2023). There were multiple CST’s out there for the response. Another incident could be like when the white powder letters were being sent,” Cushman said. “If local enforcement agencies are getting overwhelmed, or just want to know what is actually in the letters, they might be calling us to assist with that. Or a chemical spill.”
A group of eleven Michigan guardsmen in Hazmat suits did their exercises under the grandstand at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. A group of eleven from Wisconsin were there on Tuesday, but returned home before Wednesday’s training.
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