BRIDGEPORT, W.V.a–If you see emergency responders heading toward the North Central West Virginia Airport on the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 4, don’t be alarmed. It’s only a drill. City of Bridgeport emergency responders are partnering with the North Central West Virginia Airport to sponsor the training at approximately 6 p.m.
The exercise will be “full-scale,” which means participating agencies will be acting out a response to a simulated emergency. “These events are crucial in that they bring together many of our partners, not just those from and in the City of Bridgeport,” said Tim Curry, director of the city’s Emergency Management Department. WVU Medicine United Hospital Center, Harrison County Emergency Services, and Harrison County Emergency Medical Services will be participating alongside the airport and the city police and fire departments. Volunteers will also role play victims with various injuries.
“We are happy to work with the airport on a required exercise. It provides us with an opportunity to train and learn together, and that is the essence of preparedness,” Curry said.
Exercise play will primarily occur at the airport with some patient transport to the emergency department at United Hospital Center. Hospital operations will not be impacted, nor will scheduled flights at the airport. Signage and other forms of notice will be posted in appropriate areas on the day of the exercise, and the businesses at the airport have been notified