Arctic Edge kicks off in Alaska Published April 27, 2010 By By Staff Sgt. Brian Ferguson 3rd Wing Public Affairs ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Arctic Edge 2010 kicked off with a simulated magnitude 8.5 earthquake 35 miles southwest of Anchorage in the Cook Inlet, here April 26. Arctic Edge 10 is a major exercise conducted in cooperation with the State of Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and other federal, state and local agencies. The exercise gives federal, state, and local authorities the opportunity to operate together in a natural disaster scenario that requires an interagency response. "It tests our response to a natural disaster scenario and helps us incorporate lessons learned from real-world disasters," said Maj. Thomas Wolfe, the Current Operations lead at the Joint Operation Center of Joint Task Force - Alaska. More than 20 state, local and private organizations are participating in the exercise. Federal participants include the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Defense. To support the exercise and coordinate Department of Defense assets, Joint Task Force - Alaska transitioned its Joint Operations Center to 24 hour operations. "During a natural disaster the JOC helps ensure Department of Defense personnel and family members are safe and being cared for," said Major Wolfe. "After assessing our capabilities and ensuring our ability to operate, we respond to the State's requests for support, as required." Each component command has a representative in the JOC. Requests for support from the state are channeled up through the federal government and Department of Defense. Once the request reaches the JOC, it is forwarded to the appropriate component. "We fuse data and send it out to the right players," said Major Wolfe. "We're fortunate to have personnel who know Alaska and its unique challenges." The exercise will continue through May 1, testing state, local, and federal responses to ensure, should a real disaster occur, all agencies are prepared.