Guard members to participate in emergency response exercise

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

Hundreds of members of the New York National Guard — including many from Schenectady County — will be in a Hudson Valley city this weekend to conduct an emergency response exercise.

The state Division of Military and Naval Affairs says 250 local first responders and 100 civilians will join more than 400 National Guard soldiers and airmen for Saturday’s training exercise in Kingston.

During the exercise, local emergency agencies and the Guard will respond to a terrorist attack with a “dirty bomb” — an explosive which sprays radioactive material. The exercise is being held at the site of the former Kings Inn, an abandoned motel the National Guard tore down last month.

National Guard units based in Schenectady County, Brooklyn and Kingston are taking part in Saturday’s exercise, along with members from the medical squadrons of New York’s five air wings.