Rochester, N.Y. - More than 150 community members volunteered to help with the emergency drill at the Greater Rochester International Airport Saturday.
The drill is a simulation on a grand scale. Volunteers acting injured while first responders rush to the scene. More than 400 people from fire, police, EMS, hospitals and the airport worked together to implement the airport's emergency plan should a plane actually crash.
The Red Cross also played a role, providing assistance to the families and mass care assistance to the EMTs.
“When things actually happen there's no time to say we should have had this done, or we should have focused on improving our communication or whatever it may be,” said Erin Caldwell of the American Red Cross. “It's important that we really practice this sort of thing, so that in a disaster we're ready.”
While crews worked to rescue and treat patients on the tarmac, inside officials were keeping the lines of communication open, testing the airport emergency operations center.
Seeing how it holds up during a crisis of this magnitude.
“I think as with any exercise you learn lessons and we're learning those,” said Mike Giardino, Monroe County director of aviation, "But for the most part, this facility is operating as we planned it to do.”
The drill is mandated by the FAA, and must be completed every three years.
