Mock disaster event planned for September 28 calls for heavy public safety presence
Cape Cod Gateway Airport will conduct an in-depth exercise involving safety protocols via a full-scale emergency drill on Tuesday, September 28 at 5:00 p.m. at the airport grounds in Hyannis.
The exercise will simulate a completely mock scenario of an aircraft accident. Actual aircraft will not be used in the drill, yet fire departments will be setting training fires and using other simulations to test the airport’s emergency response plan. Police, Fire, Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals, US Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration, Massachusetts Department of Transportation-Aeronautics Division, Airlines, American Red Cross, Emergency Management, and other Cape Cod towns will all play a role in the exercise.
Training stations will be part of the drill allowing airport staff, fire departments, airlines, American Red Cross and others to respond to various simulations as part of the drill. This includes testing multiagency coordination and the workings of an incident command system; responding to live fires; answering the need of family and friends of victims involved in the mock aircraft accident; and simulating transport and medical care both onsite and at Cape Cod Hospital. Depending on COVID-19 restrictions, volunteers will also be on hand to play the roles of accident victims.
“The Federal Aviation Administration requires us to stage a full scale drill every three years,” said Airport Manager Katie Servis. “The ultimate goal of the exercise is to identify improvements to be made to our emergency response should a real disaster ever happen at the airport. Both strengths and weaknesses of the response will be noted and an evaluation team on hand to monitor and critique the exercise. The exercise tests multiagency coordination and response implementing use of the resources from its surrounding communities.”
“Full-scale exercises are important component in ensuring the safety of the traveling public. Exercises also provide an opportunity to test response plans that may be used during various types of emergencies, ensuring that the exercise has cross cutting value. We appreciate the efforts and assistance of all agencies involved,” said Chief Peter Burke, Hyannis Fire.
While the drill takes place, please be advised that there will be active police, fire and helicopter activity in the vicinity of the Airport.
The Airport will remain open to scheduled and charter operations during this exercise.
For further drill information, please contact the airport manager’s office at 508 775- 2020 or kservis@flyhya.com.
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NOTE: Members of the media who want to cover this exercise should contact Katie
Servis at 508 775-2020 or kservis@flyhya.com to coordinate access to the drill site.
Media will have limited availability for access to the drill site and requests must
be received prior to September 24, 2021 at 5PM; access will be granted on a first
come, first served basis. Media will also have the opportunity to participate in the
drill with airport staff responding to media at a mock press conference.
