Operation Dark Frost is a go.
As the sun went down Oct. 5, Pittsburgh District’s Crooked Creek Lake hosted an emergency management training exercise. “Dark Frost” was the first event of its kind held in western Pennsylvania with the purpose of improving emergency response skills.
Anthony Honick, Crooked Creek Lake’s supervisory natural resource manager, said the training was “…a great opportunity to partner with several other emergency response agencies.” Honick said. “Practice only helps to solidify effective communication between radio operators and responders in an emergency situation.”
Participants faced challenges such as operating in a remote area with limited cellular coverage, integrating emergency responders, and using amateur ham radio operators.
Operation Dark Frost gave participants an opportunity to solidify partnerships and hone communication processes to ensure the public’s safety and return value to the community.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was one of 12 agencies who attended, all of which volunteered time and effort to make the event possible and enhance the training’s effectiveness.
“The exercise not only brought these partnerships together and engaged the community, but it prepared first responders for realistic emergencies,” said Honick. “It supports our primary mission of guaranteeing park visitors’ safety.”