Exercise to Test Emergency Preparedness

By Stacey Mulick, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.

Jul. 30–Officials at Sea-Tac Airport will be involved in an emergency-preparedness drill this morning on the third runway in order to achieve FAA certification.

The full-scale drill will simulate an aircraft crash and involve more than 100 volunteers and dozens of emergency vehicles, the Port of Seattle announced this morning. Passers by might see smoke coming from the mock aircraft and emergency vehicles at the airport but should not be alarmed.

The drill is scheduled to last from 9 a.m. to noon. It’s designed to test airfield disaster preparedness and response. Such tests are required by the FAA every three years, officials reported.

The exercise is not scheduled to impact any air travel. The airport’s two runways will be open as normal.

In the exercise, a plane crashes and several cars are wrecked, leaving multiple victims. Some of the victims will be trapped to test responders extrication procedures.

Up to 175 firefighters are expected to participate in the drill. They will be using 50 to 75 fire engines and aid cars. Police officers also will be taking part, port officials reported.

Airport and airline representatives, the FAA, the Red Cross, the King County Emergency Management Division and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office also will be involved.

After the exercise, officials will put together a report on how it went and what gaps were found in emergency plans.

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