Norfolk Airport Conducts Disaster Drill Simulating Plane Fire and Mass Casualty Response
NORFOLK, V.A. — More than 200 people participated in a large-scale disaster drill at Norfolk International Airport on Saturday morning, testing the region’s ability to respond to a catastrophic aircraft emergency.
FAA-Mandated Exercise Every Three Years
The exercise, required by the Federal Aviation Administration, takes place every three years to evaluate coordination among emergency agencies.
The drill began with firefighters extinguishing flames from a mock plane fire before moving into a mass casualty response, with more than 120 volunteers posing as victims. Another 100 responders worked to triage and transport the injured.
Focus on Communication and Coordination
Bruce Evans, Senior Manager of Public Safety and Security at the airport, said the goal was to strengthen communication across jurisdictions.
“Interoperability is huge. We don’t get to interact with our mutual aid partners on such a large scale. An incident like this tests us — communication is always a big problem,” Evans explained.
The drill brought together agencies from Norfolk Fire-Rescue, Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach EMS, Chesapeake responders, and airport personnel, among others.
Why It Matters
Evans emphasized that while municipal responders regularly handle car crashes and house fires, aircraft incidents present far greater challenges.
“You’re going to have very critically wounded, mortally wounded people, and you’re just not going to see that type of stuff at a municipality,” he said. “It’s important that we get them on our property, because depending on the incident, our airport may still be open.”
Regional Preparedness
Officials said that in a real emergency, patients could be transported as far as Richmond or Charlottesville, making regional interoperability a critical skill to practice.
Exercises like this, while simulated, play a vital role in ensuring that first responders and airport staff are prepared for real-life aviation emergencies.
Do you think airports should hold these kinds of large-scale disaster drills more frequently than every three years? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
