Airport Triennial Emergency Exercise
Outagamie County Regional Airport to Conduct Triennial Emergency Exercise Saturday morning, August 16th
Appleton, WI: Outagamie County Regional Airport will conduct its federally mandated Triennial Emergency Exercise on airport property Saturday morning, August 16th. Airport staff will conduct the drill with help from eight area fire departments, first responder groups, local hospitals, law enforcement agencies, ambulance and helicopter services, American Red Cross, and a major US airline.
According to Abe Weber, Airport Director, ‘this controlled simulated disaster is designed to exercise all aspects of our FAA-approved airport emergency plan: disaster response, mutual aid support, communications, triage and transport, and family assistance center. We greatly appreciate the support of our responding agencies in this exercise.’
The emergency exercise is a readiness and coordination drill required by the Federal Aviation Administration. It aims to create a realistic simulation of emergency conditions, Weber said.
He added, ‘Over 100 volunteer participants representing travelers and families will assist with the drill.’
Emergency vehicles, along with fire and rescue vehicles, are expected to respond as part of the drill. The emergency exercise will not affect scheduled passenger flights at Outagamie County Regional Airport or traffic on area roads. The event is not open to the public.
Outagamie County Airport Public Safety and Outagamie County Emergency Management coordinated the exercise. Airport Public Safety Chief Gary Wunsch provided a list of area agencies participating in Saturday’s drill:
Fire Departments: ATW Airport, Greenville, Grand Chute, Town of Menasha, Appleton, Hortonville, Ellington, Center, Dale, Clayton-Winchester.
First Responders: Greenville, Ellington, Dale, Clayton-Winchester.
Law Enforcement: Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Chute Police Dept., Town of Menasha Police Dept.
Transportation: Gold Cross Ambulance Service, ThedaStar Air Medical, Flight for Life
Hospitals: St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Medical Center, ThedaCare Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center
Family Assistance Center: American Red Cross
Other assistance: Outagamie County Health and Human Services, and CERT (Outagamie County Community Emergency Response Team).
In addition, ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) will provide communications monitoring and support.
For Immediate Release: August 14, 2014
Contact: Pat Tracey (920) 209-9031; Abe Weber (920) 832-5267