I really am V.I.P.!

Yesterday was a cool day in the "Amber work day"...

Here in the Environmental Department we meet a lot of people around these here parts and yesterday we were V.I.P.s (YES VIPs!) of the Prescott Fire Department for a Mass Causality Incident (MCI) Drill. This "drill" was not small by any means... it incorporated city, county, state AND federal cooperation!

Here was the scenario... 2 planes collided at the PRC airport and there were many MANY victims; this was a "drill" to see how everyone would work together in a situation like this.

When we first arrived at the scene (where the victims were ~ after they put the fire out) there was a woman (obviously acting) wandering around crying her head off screaming "my baby, my baby" this really set me back... first I didn't think the actors would be "that good" and second this situation really made me think of my kids and what exactly I would do if I were in that position. I honestly almost couldn't handle being there; I really wanted to burst into tears! Then as the drill played out more and more agencies got involved... and it wasn't something that just for the time being it was played out. NO! They played it from start to finish as if this was actually happening. From the time "the call went in" to the "time all victims were transported" was 2 hours! Which honestly seems like a long time but really the people involved worked their asses off! And it was in a super secure location that all personnel had to be escorted to the scene.

Here are some pictures of the drill (sorry for the poor quality pictures they were from my phone):


This is the fire from the planes that collided

Foam truck putting out the planes





Victims



Ok so how does this make my job cool? I mean really this was kind of sad and I almost couldn't handle it right so how could my job be cool?

Well...

As a part of the federal involvement they brought in a Black Hawk! So after the drill of course we took advantage of taking pictures in front of it! I mean how many really get to be this up close and personal with a Black Hawk? No I didn't get to ride in it :( next time... maybe!

So even though the first part of the drill was emotional for me it was pretty cool!