Clearwater Now Home of Florida National Guard WMD Response Unit

Posted Nov 9, 2011 by Howard Altman

Updated Nov 9, 2011 at 05:21 PM

Clearwater will host a newly certified Florida National Guard emergency response unit designed to deal with responses to weapons of mass destruction.

The 48th Weapons of Mass Destruction – Civil Support Team – has been officially certified by the Department of Defense as fully ready to assist civilian authorities in response to a domestic weapon of mass destruction incident, according to the Florida National Guard.

“In this current operating environment, it is imperative that we maintain a high level of readiness to respond to domestic threats, as well as those overseas,” said Maj. Gen. Emmett R. Titshaw, the Adjutant General of Florida, in a press release. “This Civil Support Team will complement our existing capabilities and leave us better prepared and equipped to protect and support our state, if needed.”

The unit is the second of its kind in Florida and the 57th nationally. Its highly-trained and skilled members will provide assistance to state and local authorities during domestic incidents by identifying chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive agents or substances, assessing potential consequences and assisting with determining appropriate response measures.

The unit can deploy with high-tech equipment and expertise to advise civilian agencies during emergency operations and facilitate request for assistance of additional state and federal assets to help save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate great property damage.

The 48th WMD-CST began standing up April 2008 and, after hiring personnel and obtaining equipment, underwent a little more than a year’s worth of rigorous training and evaluations to meet DoD certification standards.