Idaho Falls Regional Airport hosts emergency disaster drill
Published at | Updated at
IDAHO FALLS– Volunteers from Dr.Slaughters House of Terror were doing more than just scaring people at an airport hanger Wednesday. They were actual participants in a mock catastrophe for the Idaho Falls Regional Airport.
“As a commercial service airport, we are required to do a live full scale disaster drill,” IDA director Craig Davis told EastIdahoNews.com.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires IDA to conduct a mass casualty drill every three years to test for emergency preparedness in the event of an aircraft incident. The simulation took place at IDA’s hanger number seven from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The primary purpose of the drill is to combine a series of emergency events designed to fully test the airport’s emergency response time and protocol, as well as the emergency command and control functions.
During the event, emergency responders had to extinguish a mock fire within three minutes from the initial call that an aircraft accident happened. They also assisted mock victims to safety.
“All the agencies that are required to respond to such a mass casualty incident are ready. (People) should feel safe that we’re providing this service to the traveling public and that’s a requirement of our operating certificate,” Davis said.
Some 45 victim volunteers from Dr. Slaughter’s House of Terror along with the Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC) Nursing and Dental Program participated in the drill.
Members of the Idaho Falls Fire Department, Idaho Falls Police department, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Bonneville Joint School District 93 Transportation and other local organizations took part in the simulation.
“This drill took a significant amount of time and effort to plan and coordinate, and we appreciate the cooperation we received from all entities involved,” Davis said in a release.