Marines, Border Patrol, Homeland Security and some non-government organizations spent yesterday practicing disaster relief exercises at San Diego's Brown Field.
Operation Golden Phoenix focused on technologies and strategies for natural disasters and terrorist attacks. Marines practiced patrolling, running checkpoints and hostage rescues.
Project Kid was promoting a post-disaster childcare program. Chair Lenore Ealy says they were also able to practice the most important part of disaster relief, communication.
Ealy: Civilians need to be involved in exercises such as Golden Phoenix to understand how the military works, how official response systems work, how incident command works, so when disaster happens they're better educated about how to interface with those organizations.
Today's activities will focus on working with local hospitals.
