TRR photo by Chris Conroy A member of the Sullivan County International Airport team decked out in full gear at the mass casualty drill. (Click for larger image)

When disaster strikes!

County-wide disaster drill gives volunteers a chance to show their stuff

By CHRIS CONROY

BETHEL — The Sullivan County International Airport was the scene of a mock plane crash early in the morning of April 28.

According to the scenario, a small plane carrying 20 people experienced cataclysmic engine failure and collided with a ground vehicle in an attempt to land.

At just after 8:00 a.m., the call went out to Sullivan County fire companies and ambulance services.

Bill Hofaker, the Director of Emergency Services for the airport, was in charge of the drill. With the help of volunteers from local Boy Scout troops and the Civil Air Patrol, Hofaker set up a debris field complete with injured passengers from both the plane and the ground vehicle.

Arriving on the scene, fire and rescue teams quickly assessed the damage and danger, laying down protective foam to disperse the theoretical aircraft fuel and douse imaginary flames. Ambulance crewmembers moved swiftly from victim to victim, assessing the severity of their injuries and marking the most serious for immediate attention. Even with the triage and speedy treatment, some of the victims “died.”

	TRR photo by Chris Conroy A firefighter aids a “crash victim.” (Click for larger image)

A helicopter was called in to help move the most seriously injured victims. All of the simulated injured were taken to Community General Hospital, transported as if their injuries were real.

“In an actual emergency,” Hofaker said, “death would be a reality.”

A mass casualty drill such as this one is required every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration, Hofaker said. Even though most of the air traffic that moves through the airport is small, private planes, an accident such as the one simulated could take place. “We are rated to handle planes this size.”

The biggest obstacle to the exercise, and the only real danger, was the cold and windy morning weather. Lying along the taxiway for nearly three hours, some of the volunteers needed to be bundled with extra blankets and coats to keep them warm.

“Overall the drill went well,” Hofaker said, noting that communication between rescue workers could be improved. “We will be discussing that in detail at a future meeting.”

“I’d much rather rehearse it,” Hofaker said of the simulation, “than actually have it happen.”