Disaster drill puts city services to the test

On the afternoon of May 4, disaster seemingly struck at the rock quarry north of Wrangell Airport. Vehicles were aflame, pouring a column of smoke into the sunny sky as dozens of wounded lay scattered around the piles of stone and sand awaiting aid.

Within minutes emergency vehicles are on the scene, with pumper trucks from the airport and Wrangell Volunteer Fire Department dousing the wreckage and emergency medical technicians coordinating with firefighters to identify and prepare victims for treatment. Responders broke into small groups and combed the area for survivors. Those able to walk were ordered to wait on a green tarp volunteers had spread out in the lot. Two yellow and a red tarp were prepared for those who were not so lucky, with those ending up on the latter in need of immediate aid.

Fortunately the incident was only an exercise, with makeup simulating wounds and the groans of the wounded only the amateur theatrics of volunteers. Responders took it seriously, working as quickly as possible to diagnose and sort patients on site.

With police minding traffic, a pair of ambulances alternated ferrying the worst-off patients from the quarry to Wrangell Medical Center. Those cases considered less severe were transported to the hospital by van or truck.

"We saw over 50 'patients,'" said Robert Rang, Wrangell Medical Center CEO.

More than half the hospital's medical staff reported for duty, triaging patients as they were brought in by truck and ambulance and treated according to their assigned injuries. Hospital staff simulated the appropriate treatments and procedures, bandaging wounds, running lab tests, taking x-rays, and even preparing a few cases for air transport.

Rang explained such drills are an annual requirement for the hospital as part of its Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) certification. In addition to preparing newer staff members for emergency response situations, the drills help the administration review its internal processes, medical supplies and collaborative efficiency with other agencies.

"There are always lessons learned," Rang said.

Minding traffic at an intersection, Chief Doug McCloskey of Wrangell Police Department explained the drill was mandatory for the airport as well, and was a good opportunity for Wrangell's various emergency services to apply real-world skills in a crisis. Whether the unthinkable happens to be a plane crash, car accident, fuel explosion or terrorist attack, being able to cope with mass casualty situations are an essential component of emergency response.

"The core principles of it are the same," McCloskey summarized.