From October 15 - 19, 2007 the Oregon National Guard supported first responders during one of the country’s biggest terrorism exercises to be staged nationally.

The exercise, known as TOPOFF 4 allowed local, state and federal agencies to test their abilities to respond to a staged terrorist attack.

The exercise began locally when a simulated bomb exploded in north Portland, OR. The 102nd Civil Support Team, Army National Guard, then coordinated with the Incident Command System (ICS) and provided Hazardous Materials expertise when the training scenario determined the explosion to be a “dirty bomb” containing radioactive material.  ICS integrated the Oregon National Guard Joint Task Force (JTF) with civilian agencies, such as the police, fire department, Red Cross, FBI and Environmental Protection Agency, in order to communicate and combine efforts.

During the exercise “patients” were screened for radiation and guided into Reeves hospital shelters for treatment.

The multi-agency exercise was staged in Oregon, Arizona and Guam and signified the fourth time that it was held since the drill was established by the Clinton Administration and Congress.