Erie County Conducts Airport Disaster Drill

Saturday September 8, 2001

Just days before terrorists slammed commercial jetliners into the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport was the scene of a mock disaster drill in which it was simulated that terrorists blew up an aircraft containing 82 passengers and a biological weapon. Over 200 rescue workers responded to this mock disaster. Participants included the Buffalo Niagara International Airport's Aircraft Rescue Fire Department, HAZMAT crews from Erie County and the City of Buffalo Fire Department, representatives from Erie County Emergency Services and New York State, as well as various airport representatives. The Erie County Medical Center Specialized Medical Assistance Response Team also responded.

Great effort went into the exercise to make the drill seem as real as possible. After nine months of planning, the 2 1/2 hour drill provided responders with many valuable lessons. Area HAZMAT teams got the chance to work together and EMS responders were given their chance to triage and treat a large number of patients.

Hopefully Western New York will never have to respond to an actual disaster involving a large commercial jetliner; however, it is comforting to know that we are prepared in the event the need arises.

Disaster Drill Photos

Conducted at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the drill simulated 62 patients and 20 fatalities.	Erie County HAZMAT team members set up portable ponds and decontamination tents.
A centralized command post was established to bring together all command personnel.	The Buffalo Fire Department HAZMAT team members decontaminate technicians after sample collection activities.
Walking wounded are loaded into an ambulance for transport to the hospital.	A physician with the ECMC SMART team leads the triage team through triage activities.

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