MARTINSBURG, WV - A task force from Virginia spent the afternoon in Martinsburg as part of a training exercise to simulate real-life situations.

Members of Virginia Task Force One were at the 167th Airlift Wing to practice deployment to disaster areas following a catastrophic event.

The exercise was conducted in "real time," with members checking in their emergency packs, followed by a debriefing.

In a real life situation they would then board a plane and fly to the scene of a disaster.

"This exercise is extremely important because it tasks our ability to get to the work site quickly. In rescue work, if we can't get to the site in a quick fashion, we can't make any rescues," says Bob Zoldos with the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

After arriving to the scene of a disaster, the rescue team's mission would be to search for victims in buildings and other affected areas.