CARLSBORG — Testing how law enforcement, fire and rescue crews and other agencies communicate and work together was one of the goals of an emergency drill called “Operation Alligator” held Monday in Carlsborg.
The drill’s scenario had armed “terrorists” setting off explosives in a school and then fired their weapons at rescuers.
Firefighters and law enforcement personnel from Jefferson and Clallam counties worked together to respond to the incident, deal with the terrorists, tend to the wounded, communicate with one another via radio and extinguish vehicle fires.
They also dealt with a simulated motor vehicle accident that occurred on U.S. Highway 101 at the same time as the terrorist attack.
And there was more
To make matters even more complicated for the responders, the explosion occurred in the school’s “laboratory,” and hazardous chemicals were present at the scene.
The drill took place at Clallam County Fire District No. 3’s fire station, where 40-foot-long shipping containers served as a the school building.
Booming sounds — to represent explosions — and the popping sound of blank weapons fire occasionally rang through the air as the drill progressed.
At least 19 “victims” — mostly Port Angeles High School students who lay on the ground and feigned injury — were treated at the scene.
Three people were “killed.”
Rescue personnel checked the status of every injured person and tagged him or her with colored triage tags and ribbons to identify the severity of their wounds: red for critical injuries, yellow for serious and green for nonlife-threatening.
The details of the drill were not made known to participating agencies beforehand.
When the drill concluded, a “hot wash” meeting was held to evaluate what happened during the drill and to discuss what could be improved.
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Photojournalist Chris Tucker can be reached at 360-417-3524 or at chris.tucker@peninsuladailynews.com.
