The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey conducted an emergency response exercise at New Jersey Marine Terminals on the morning of Saturday, August 20 at the Red Hook Terminal in Port Newark.

The exercise did not have an impact on port operations, but motorists in the area were able to notice smoke and numerous emergency vehicles in and around the port facilities.

The full-scale exercise (FSE) is part of the port authority’s ongoing emergency response program, which enables agency personnel and other emergency responders to test and enhance response procedures.

The exercise also included federal, state, and local partners. Jeh Johnson, secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, was also present at the exercise.

“I had the privilege of observing the New Jersey Marine Terminal full-scale explosion exercise at the Port of Newark,” Johnson commented. “Given the current threat environment, these exercises are vital and allow for multi-discipline and multi-jurisdictional planning and coordination.”

The Department of Homeland Security supports these types of training exercises, Johnson noted. “This one in particular included the participation of both Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard,” he added. “The Department of Homeland Security also supports these exercises through grants. For this exercise in particular, around $200,000 of UASI [Urban Areas Security Initiative] grant money was spent, in addition to the numerous pieces of equipment deployed today that was previously purchased through DHS grants over the years. This equipment included a mobile emergency operations center, medical ambulance bus, mass casualty response unit, and marine vessels.

“I’d like to thank the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for planning today’s exercise,” Johnson continued, “and thank and congratulate all of the participants. It is meaningful training like this that makes us stronger as a country and more prepared for when events require our quick response.”