ARK Training Staff and WV Regional Response Teams Assist National Geographic Television with Disaster Project
Monday, April 7 2008

ARK Technical Rescue Training Services staff and students attending the March 2008 technician level structural collapse training course in Morgantown West Virginia, assisted National Geographic Television with the production of a disaster related episode to be aired at a latter date in 2008 or early 2009.

Camera and sound crews from National Geographic Television(NGT) arrived in town during the final three days of class to gain first hand knowledge about how response teams are being trained for effective response to structural collapse events. NGT staff participated in some of the concrete breaching and cutting stations getting the opportunity to operate electric breakers inside confined areas, and using rotary disc saws to cut through concrete slabs.

The NGT crews were onsite to witness the partial collapse of a vacant structure for use during the scenario based final exercise, and planted "crash box" cameras in various parts of the building to document the failure of the structure as it was demolished by heavy equipment.

The NGT film and sound crews set up elevated camera booms to gain film coverage from various vantage points, and wired some students and training staff to gain sound bites for their disaster episode. Shawn Alderman, The West Virginia Regional Response Team Operations Manager coordinated the efforts between the NGT, the students and the ARK Technical Rescue training staff.

Kudos to the National Geographic Television staff,the students, and the WV Regional Response Team management staff for this excellent opportunity to showcase the efforts being taken in West Virginia to improve their response capabilities.