This year’s AlaskaShield exercise will test government and community organization preparedness for a terrorism attack that involves “biological, cyber, explosive and hostage elements,” according to a news release from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
The exercise takes place Wednesday to Saturday this week, and involves 11 communities, including Fairbanks. It also involves five state agencies, 12 federal organizations and two nonprofit organizations.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough part of the exercise will mostly involve the cybersecurity and public health aspects of the scenario. People may notice more activity around hospital, fire department and emergency operations facilities, according to a separate news release from the borough. No mass casualty exercises are planned as part of this year’s scenario.
AlaskaShield exercises take place once every two or three years.