Mock Disaster Training Set For May 2

Mock Disaster Training Set For May 2

By Kevin Fox

”This training exercise is key to improving how we respond to accident scenes and what we should be looking for and not assuming”, stated Chuck Jenkins Local Emergency Planning Committee Chairman in speaking about a Mock Disaster, which is to be held at the Clark County Fairgrounds on May 2.  Jenkins continued, “The disaster has been orchestrated by a sub committee of LEPC members. Those members are Chuck Jenkins, Jim Alderton of the Wyaconda Fire Department and Shelly Thurman and Jesse Rye.  A dispatch will be given as if it were an emergency and then those responding will be facing some unique challenges that we hope and pray that we as emergency personnel will never have to face. But, the training exercise is not meant for anyone to look bad only to build on the things, which we do right and then review the areas that we can improve on.
It’s very serious business and is treated very professional by all the departments. The only thing that may be considered fun is the departments trying to guess what will get tossed at them this year and if there is a surprise element lurking out there.
But here is what I can release for them to know. Jamie Steele, of the Alexandria Fire Department will be Incident Command. This is something that is rotated at each Mock Disaster so everyone gets that experience. Prior to the dispatch the fire departments will need to be staged no later than 8:30 a.m. with the exercise beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Revere Fire Department will be located at Ma & Pa’s parking lot, Alexandria will be at the old sale barn, Wyaconda will be at Ayerco, Wayland will also be at the old sale barn, the other departments such as Clark County/ Kahoka Fire, Clark County Rescue, Clark County Ambulance will all be at their building when the call comes in.
The Mock Disaster will begin at 9:00 a.m. and when completed there will be a lunch provided for those who participated and a review will be held to go over how things went. This review is compiled by a group of observers who were on hand and assessed the proceedings.”