PORT ANGELES — A tsunami drill at Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles on Wednesday provided a few real-world hurdles on top of the planned simulations.
With a tsunami on its way, the Coast Guard’s drill calls for the command center and aircraft to be relocated to William R. Fairchild International Airport less than 5 miles away.
But the heavy morning fog Wednesday combined with the absence of an instrument landing system at the airport would require the station’s rescue helicopters to land elsewhere, drill organizers said.
“It would be a really tough situation,” said spokesman Lt. Neil Penso.
The airport’s landing system is being upgraded.
If a tsunami did hit under those conditions, the helicopters would be relocated to Whidbey Island or Seattle until the fog lifts, said Lt. Justin Hunt, planning officer.
Wednesday’s six-hour drill, which wasn’t announced to most of the Coast Guard staff until that morning, involved all but 15 of the station’s 110 personnel, Hunt said.
The station had enough staff still conducting regular duties to respond to a call, he said.
The Coast Guard requires the station to conduct a “table-top drill” every year and a more extensive drill, as seen Wednesday, every two years, Hunt said.
Under the drill’s scenario, the station had 1.5 hours to evacuate before a tsunami generated from a 9.1 magnitude earthquake about 600 miles away hits. The earthquake, originating in the northern region of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, would likely have destroyed the station, Hunt said.
No actual evacuation occurred, and the drill took place entirely on the east end of the station, where the station’s portable communications center and aid tent were set up.
If the tsunami-alter system fails, the station may only have five minutes to evacuate, Penso said. Under that situation, he said, personnel would “grab the basic things . . . jump in and go.”
Hunt said the portable communications center is stored at the airport.
The drill also consisted of two simulated rescues, but because of the fog, the helicopter crew had to stay put on the runway.
The crew still went through the motions with communications officers over their radios.
In the medical tent, two people pretended to need to be treated — one from hypothermia and another from a broken leg, Hunt said.
As with every such drill, Hunt said the purpose is to ensure that all lines of communication will be open and everyone knows how to coordinate resources.
The lines of communication were open, he said, and the station was in radio contact with the Clallam County Emergency Management office in the basement of the Clallam County Courthouse.
The county’s Emergency Management program participated in the drill, and four Coast Guard staff members were located in its office.
About halfway through the drill, Hunt said, he noticed a few things that could be improved, such as ensuring that everyone knows their roles ahead of time.
He said the station’s officers will review the drill and find ways to improve and “do better next time.”
“We end up with what we can do better in the future,” said Capt. Scott Pollock, commanding officer.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
