Nashville Guard unit ready if called for Ebola response

photo President Barack Obama speaks to the media about the government's Ebola response, in the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 16, 2014, in Washington.

As President Barack Obama authorized the Pentagon to prepare National Guard and Reserve troops to potentially assist in the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the Nashville-based Guard unit uniquely equipped to respond to unprecedented civil emergencies said it is prepared to serve.

The 45th Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team (WMD-CST) was qualified as "mission ready" by the Department of Defense in 2003, according to a news release from Niki Gentry, public affairs officer for the Tennessee National Guard.

"Nothing indicates yet that we would be involved," Gentry said Friday. "But we are standing by and ready to work with authorities if they ask for assistance."

The 45th WMD-CST is tasked to support civilian authorities when a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or natural disaster incident occurs in Tennessee or the nation, the release stated.

More than 50 similar Guard units nationwide are "trained to respond within minutes to highly dangerous incidents and assist in mitigating the loss of life and destruction of property," the release said.

The unit can deploy sophisticated detection and communications equipment to an incident site while delivering critical assessments for emergency and law enforcement personnel during responses, the release stated.

"While working with civilian partners, we bring robust HAZMAT expertise, communications support, and medical assistance to an event," the unit's commander, Lt. Col. Jeff Brown, said in the statement.

Gentry said that regardless of what impact Obama's most recent orders have on the National Guard, "We will always be a support element to the civil authorities."

As the National Guard is preparing nationwide, the Tennessee Hospital Association is increasing its preparedness, as well.

Craig Becker, president of the Tennessee Hospital Association, said that "with confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States, including cases among healthcare workers, hospitals across the country are on high alert. Tennessee's hospitals are certainly no exception."

Tennessee's hospitals are continuously updating policies and procedures related to infectious disease treatment, he added.

Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6592.

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