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| An unresponsive person receives triage near the Butler elementary school during a special training exercise on Monday evening |
As part of an ongoing series of training exercises held in conjunction with the Butler fire department, Bates County EMA, Butler police, Bates County Memorial Hospital, the Bates County Sheriff's Office and others, a scenario played out Monday evening as follows:
Two tornados have caused moderate to severe damage in the city limits of Butler. There are downed trees, power lines, possible injuries and damage to buildings. The storm has taken out dispatch capabilities from both county and city dispatch centers. Neighboring agencies and Bates County Sheriff units cannot respond due to being tied up in other areas of the county that have experienced damage. Mobile and portable radios are operable but city and county dispatch centers are down.
Firstly, a unified Command Center was created, including representatives from Fire, Police, EMS and County/EMA which was located at the Butler Fire Department offices on Orange street.
In short order, fire and police units were dispatched to canvass for hazards which were designated by cones at various locations. Under each cone was information about the hazard (scenario incident list). As responding units found the cones and read the information, they had to decide where the call should be directed using the chain of command.
The area for the exercise covered from Nursery to Harrison streets (north and south) and Orange to Main streets ((east and west) that included hazards on both sides of the street. All during which, Bates County Memorial Hospital EMS responded accordingly and triaged calls.
The following is a list a hazards and situations encountered by first responders:
1. A large tree across the road.
2. Powerline across the road.
3. Powerline across the road and arcing on parked car.
4. The police department building was heavily damaged.
5. House heavily damaged with 2 victims involved.
6. Powerline on car with person inside who had a heart attack.
7. Event in school gym, although no visible damage to structure.
8. Electric line pulled from house with arcing, a potential fire hazard.
The following is a list a hazards and situations encountered by first responders:
1. A large tree across the road.
2. Powerline across the road.
3. Powerline across the road and arcing on parked car.
4. The police department building was heavily damaged.
5. House heavily damaged with 2 victims involved.
6. Powerline on car with person inside who had a heart attack.
7. Event in school gym, although no visible damage to structure.
8. Electric line pulled from house with arcing, a potential fire hazard.
9. Shirtless man in street screaming with a knife, police respond.
10 . Stop light not working, traffic congestion.
11. Old High School severely damaged. Victims may be inside on first floor.
10 . Stop light not working, traffic congestion.
11. Old High School severely damaged. Victims may be inside on first floor.
12. Flooding over street including a sewage hazard.
13. Gas meter taken out by a tree, gas now leaking presenting an explosion potential.
Following the exercise, all units returned to the command center on Orange street to discuss how to better handle certain issues that were encountered for example, poor radio reception, enhancing overall communication between agencies and much more.
Overall, "it was a realistic learning event" that certainly will help when the real thing happens- with that, more such trainings are on the schedule for next year.
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| First responders work through a situation where a power line is on a vehicle with victim trapped inside |
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