Worst-case scenario Reservists train in Ogden for medical emergencies ALAN MURRAY/Standard-Examiner Staff Sgt. Edna Miller prepares the operating room Friday for mock casualties for this Tuesday, when the Army Reserve's 328th Combat Support Battalion will participate in a mock training exercise at Business Depot Ogden. BY JANAE FRANCIS Standard-Examiner staff jfrancis@standard.net OGDEN What if a natural disaster injured so many people that an additional hospital was needed immediately? Ninety-four members of the Army Reserve's 328th Combat Support Hospital are in town to answer that question. Deployed to Ogden for two weeks starting June 12, the reservists hailing from at least seven states have been setting up a 44-bed early entry Deployable Medical System hospital in an open area at Business Depot Ogden. On Tuesday, they'll test it out during a local mock disaster. "It's exciting for us to be here and work this closely with civilian organizations," said Capt. Steven Ford, battalion human resources officer with the 328th. "It's something we don't get to do that much and something we've always wanted to do." The exercise gives local governments a chance to validate their own emergency systems. Participating alongside the Army reservists will be employees from McKay-Dee Hospital, the Weber County Sheriff's Office, Weber County and Marriott-Slaterville. Army officials aren't sure how many simulated civilian casualties from throughout the area they'll see Tuesday, though Ford is expecting between 30 and 60. Those civilians will be joined by 10 "injured" soldiers. The medically trained reservists will evaluate the simulated injuries and send the victims for treatment at the hospital set up at BDO. If injuries warrant additional treatment, patients will then be sent to McKay-Dee Hospital. Ford said the exercise will prepare reservists in the event of a real disaster. "Our main goal is to rapidly deploy and to set up for natural disasters and homeland security missions," said Maj. Ronald Reeise, assistant chief nurse with the group. He said the 328th is one of the first three of 10 such groups to receive the equipment for an early entry hospital. The Army's surgeon general began the program in 2004 for homeland security. Ford said his group annually trains in Dublin, Calif., but members opted to report to Ogden this year to get out on their own, away from their trainers. "We decided we wanted to come out here and set up our own equipment with our own people and make sure we had it down the way we wanted to," Ford said.