Exercise helps personnel prepare for the real thing

First responders attend volunteers portraying “walking wounded” at Wednesday’s community-wide disaster drill on Ravenswood Road in McCook.

Ronda Graff/Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — A community-wide emergency exercise Wednesday helped personnel from a number of local agencies hone skills required for the real thing.

“First, I want to give a shout-out to Lopez Service and Repair for allowing the community agencies to stage participants and victims prior to the exercise,” said Dari Olson, Emergency Manager for Community Hospital, coordinator of the event.

This year’s annual community-wide disaster drill involved a bus accident on Ravenswood Road, Industrial Park Drive. There were a total of 11 victims, many of which were walking wounded (minor injuries).

Dari Olson briefs volunteer "victims" and others in preparation for Wednesday's community-wide emergency exercise. Lopez Service and Repair donated use of its building on Ravenswood Road for the drill, which involved a school bus wreck with multiple injuries.

Candy Crosby/Community Hospital

“We also involved many community members to participate as concerned friends, teachers, grandparents, etc.,” she said.

“The key to effectively manage and react to a disaster is to practice our preparedness using mock situations and periodic drills,” she said.

“Adequate training, teamwork, communication, coordination with the first responders and strong leadership are essential.”

Agencies involved included McCook Police, Fire, EMS, City of McCook, McCook Public Schools and Community Hospital as well as observers, victims and staff from those agencies and other participants.