Smoke? Booms? Relax, it’s just a drill, the Navy says

People living or working around Navy installations in the coming week may see alarming activity, including smoke, explosions and unusual activity ashore and afloat.

Relax, it’s just a drill, the Navy says.

The activities, which began Monday and will continue through Feb. 14, are part of Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2020, which the Navy says is a “force protection” drill.

Drill activities may be seen in and around Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton and its sub-bases, including Bangor, Jackson Park, Keyport and Manchester.

In a press release, Navy Region Northwest said, “measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access due to temporary gate closures or other security-related activities.”

Area residents may also see or hear security and other first-responder activities associated with the exercise, including training smoke, small explosive sounds, or increased vessel activity on the water near an installation, the Navy said. The simulations are part of the training exercise and pose no safety risk.

The exercise is not in response to any specific threat, but it is based on realistic scenarios designed to increase readiness, the Navy said.

This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 12:00 AM.