Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Military Training Exercises Keep Some S. Floridians Awake

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Residents of Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and other areas of Greater Miami were awakened by the roar of low flying planes and the thunderous thumping of helicopter blades early Tuesday morning. It wasn’t an invasion or the stopping of a terrorist act but rather a joint military training exercise. 

 Miami police, which provided support for the exercise, said it consisted of a series of training scenarios designed to “ensure the ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments, and meet mandatory training certification requirements.”

A high level Miami police source told CBS4 investigator Jim DeFede the operation consisted of rescuing hostages at the closed Grand Bay hotel by using Black Hawk helicopters to have rescue teams repel in while snipers took out dummy terrorists in the windows. When the “hostages” were rescued, the rescue teams ran to Peacock Park where the helicopters waited to pick them up.

Meanwhile, the high level source also said a terrorist missile site was constructed next to Miami City Hall and F-16’s were brought in to make practice runs to see how they would take it out.

The overnight military exercises jolted many folks right out of bed, including CBS4’s Antonio Mora. He said he first heard the choppers around 3 a.m. and the constant thumping lasted for about an hour. Reporter Gio Benitez said he also heard the low flying choppers on Miami Beach.

Some residents of the areas impacted complained that they were not given any advanced notice, but police said the training sites were carefully selected by the military to ensure that the training would not “negatively impact the citizens of Miami and/or their daily routines.”

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