Photo by Wayne Bauer

Local emergency, healthcare and medical agencies from Elk and Cameron Counties participated in a disaster drill last evening at the St. Marys Municipal Airport and Elk Regional Health Center. 

The drill, a simulation of an airplane crash with multiple trauma victims, was hosted by Elk Regional Health Center and Crystal Fire Department and coordinated under the direction of Agosti Fire and Safety Services Inc.

Agencies participating in the drill were Elk County 911 Center, Elk Regional Health Center, Elk County Emergency Management, Crystal Fire Department, Fox Township Fire Department, Cameron County Incident Response Team, Wilcox Fire/Ambulance, Johnsonburg Fire Department, Johnsonburg Ambulance, Ridgway Ambulance, St. Marys Ambulance Association, Fox Township Ambulance, Elkland Search and Rescue and Elk County Hazmat Team.

Scouts from Boy Scout Troops 95, 99 and 199 played the role of the victims in the plane crash.

The drill began when the call came in that a plane with around 25 people aboard came down in the vicinity of the airport. Firemen and medical people arrived on the scene. Command posts were set up and search for victims and rescue work was put into operation. Victims of the crash were transported to Elk Regional Health Center’s decon and emergency room by area ambulances. A decontamination center was also set up at the crash site.

The drill was termed very successful by local officials.

The upper photo show the on site decontamination area at the airport manned by the Crystal Fire Department, while the lower photo shows member of the Wilcox Fire Department getting a victim ready for transportation to Elk Regional.