The Ames Fire Department and the Iowa National Guard’s 71st Civil Support Team will gauge their readiness in responding to disasters Thursday through a weapons of mass destruction release simulation on the ISU campus.

Scott Siberski, Ames Fire Department captain, said the department’s goal is to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

“What we’re trying to do is exercise the Ames Fire Department and hazardous materials team to better prepare ourselves in the event there is and incident,” Siberski said. “We work on the way the incident is managed and the ability of both teams to work together. We also pull in other agencies in town to see how successful we are at working together. We’ll do a simulated release of a weapon of mass destruction material.”

Siberski said there are several issues the fire department will examine through the exercise.

“Life safety is our number one priority,” Siberski said. “We looked at our decontamination line. After you’ve been involved with hazardous materials, you don’t want to spread it to other environments. We’ve been practicing and trying to determine where we need improvements and what our strengths are.”

Siberski said the department is looking forward to working with the support team.

“We’re fortunate to have them located just 30 miles away,” Siberski said. “We’ll be better prepared in the event that, God forbid, something might happen.”

Lt. Col. Daniel J. Robbins, commander of the 71st Civil Support Team, said exercises like these help the team work with communities better.

“Through [the simulation], the agencies learn to work together and share talent and resources,” Robbins said.

The 71st Civil Support Team’s primary function is to assist local commanders in assessment, advice and facilitation during incidents like Sept. 11.

“The state of New York’s civil support team was present at the staging area during the Sept. 11 crisis,” Robbins said. “Other states sent civil support teams also, so support could be provided around the clock during that event.”