Mo. National Guard to participate in earthquake training |

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - Thousands of Missouri National Guard Citizen soldiers and airmen will join community, state and federal agencies for Saturday's Vigilant Guard Missouri earthquake training exercise.

According to the Missouri National Guard, it is designed to test the Guard’s ability to respond to a major earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone in southeast Missouri.

“We train for the worst so that we’re always at our best,” said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. “Missouri’s Soldiers and Airmen are the most battle-tested, seasoned force we’ve ever had. Whether they’re fighting our enemies overseas or supporting the Show Me State during natural disasters at home, our troops get the job done. This exercise is an opportunity to make our force even more ready and capable.”

Under the exercise scenario, soldiers and airmen will have to contend with a number of issues including disrupted public utilities and widespread infrastructure damage. Missouri units from across the state will participate.

According to the National Guard:

-Soldiers of the Festus-based 220th Engineer Company will use their heavy excavating equipment to prepare a bridge site as though a bridge spanning Interstate 55 in Jefferson County had collapsed.

-More than 125 Guardsmen of the 1438th Multi-Role Bridge Company out of Macon will be assigned the daunting task of replacing collapsed bridges, both over water and roadways.

-The Missouri National Guard’s 1438th Engineer Multi-Role Bridge Company, of Macon and Kirksville, is scheduled to conduct sling load and rafting operations.

-About 200 Missouri National Guardsmen will make up the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high yield Explosive (CBRNE) Task Force that will partner with local emergency personnel to participate in the exercise.

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