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Last updated on Tuesday, September 4, 2018
(UNDATED) - The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and Indiana National Guard will embark on a statewide tour beginning Wednesday to highlight their collaborative efforts to keep Hoosiers safe and respond to emergencies.
Operation Force Multiplier will see the two agencies visiting 10 emergency districts across Indiana from Sept. 5 through Oct. 3. The statewide tour will kick off Wednesday at the Guard armory in Terre Haute, 800 S. Petercheff St. Each event will begin at 10 a.m..
They will be in Bloomington Sept. 25, at 3380 South Walnut Street.
"Our first responders work very closely with the Indiana National Guard on major disaster events, trainings and community response incidents," said Bryan Langley, executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). "The concept behind Operation Force Multiplier is to gather together to better know one another, share resources and best practices and understand how and when our two agencies are called upon to help Hoosiers in need."
Most recently, the Indiana National Guard was deployed to help IDHS and local emergency management agencies respond to widespread flooding in February and March of 2018. The severity of floods resulted in local and state emergencies and ultimately a National Disaster Declaration by the President. The Guard operates year-round to protect Hoosiers and stands ready when needed when disaster strikes, said Col. Jeff Hackett of the Indiana National Guard.
"This statewide tour will increase knowledge and strengthen bonds with our first responders so that when local incident commanders face overwhelming situations they know how and when the Indiana National Guard will respond," Hackett said. "We want to showcase the strong relationship between IDHS and the National Guard, which benefits all of Indiana."
The town hall-style events will feature brief presentations by both agencies about their missions and priorities. In addition, a panel discussion will be held to discuss ways the agencies support one another, including examples of how this collaboration has benefited residents in the past.
The events are geared toward public safety and local government officials, who may be tasked with requesting additional assistance from either IDHS or the National Guard to respond to local emergencies.
"We want to be as inclusive as possible in these discussions, because the safety and security of the state is everybody's priority," Langley added.
Operation Force Multiplier schedule:
Indiana Department of Homeland Security
Established in 2005, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) leads the way to a safer and more secure Indiana. With jurisdictions involving emergency management, building code enforcement, as well as training and certification for first responders around the state, IDHS works around the clock to protect the people, property and prosperity of Indiana. For more information about IDHS, visit dhs.in.gov.
Indiana National Guard
The Indiana National Guard is an operational force that is state responsive, regionally supportive and globally engaged; using a professional unit-based force of Soldiers, Airmen and civilians, in order to be an indispensable partner in an increasingly complex joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational environment; providing a ready, responsive, adaptable, resilient and relevant military force for our state and nation; while developing a world-class environment where others come to train.
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