ONT HOSTS EMERGENCY REPATRIATION EXERCISE
(Ontario, California --- January 31, 2012) Federal, state and local, agencies used LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT) to test their emergency plan for processing United States citizens evacuated from a foreign country due to a natural disaster or other situation.
The full-scale exercise was designed to test the ability of public and private sector agencies to screen and process U.S. citizens and their dependents who are repatriated back to the U.S. from a foreign county through ONT due to war, threat of war, invasion, pandemic, natural disaster or other similar crisis.
"LA/Ontario International Airport is a designated port of entry in emergency evacuation situations," said Kim Ellis, ONT's assistant manager. "As part of the emergency plan, ONT personnel assisted with the aircraft, provided security and logistical support.
Under the scenario, a magnitude-8.9 earthquake in eastern Japan prompted the Office of Refugee Resettlement to notify the State that the first of three plane loads of repatriates would be arriving at ONT in the next 24 hours and that additional flights could be directed to ONT next week if the situation in Japan does not improve.
The exercise tested the ability to establish an Emergency Repatriation Center and supporting facilities, screen and process repatriates, and provides “mock repatriates” with access to financial aid, temporary lodging, transportation and other needed services.
Representatives processed more than 85 “mock” emergency repatriates.
"It’s important that we learn what works in a real-world scenario so that we’re ready if, and when, events abroad prompt the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement to repatriate U.S. citizens and their dependents," said Ellis.
There were 17 public and 13 private agencies participating including the California Emergency Management Agency, California Department of Social Services, San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services, City of Ontario, Los Angeles World Airports and the Red Cross.
