22 - Central Illinois Regional Airport (original) (raw)

Categories:
All Posts
News

McLean County Disaster Council Ready to Assist with Response to Mock Emergency

Bloomington, Ill. – The Central Illinois Regional Airport, in cooperation with the McLean County Disaster Council, will host a full-scale emergency drill Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Preceding the full-scale emergency drill on Saturday, emergency responders will participate in live fire training on the airfield at Central Illinois Regional Airport on Friday, June 9 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Both events will generate smoke and fire that may be visible in the community.

For the emergency drill on Saturday, there will be a simulated aircraft incident on the airfield at the Central Illinois Regional Airport to test the overall response from the responding agencies, hospitals, airport personnel, security, aid agencies and others. The Federal Aviation Administration requires the airport to conduct a full-scale emergency drill implementing its Airport Emergency Plan every three years to meet compliance and regulatory requirements. The McLean County Disaster Council has used this occasion to test the emergency response capabilities of the community and responding agencies and organizations.

The drill will include representatives from over twenty-seven emergency response agencies, health and welfare organizations and private businesses including American Red Cross, McLean County Health Department, OSF- St. Joseph Medical Center/OSF Life Flight, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Bloomington Fire Department, Bloomington Police, Normal Fire Department, Normal Police, Connect Transit, Corporate Flight Departments, local airlines/cargo, McLean County Sheriff’s Department, Bloomington Dispatch, Ireland Grove Center for Surgery, METCOM Consolidated Dispatch, Mclean County Coroner’s office, McLean County Area EMS, McLean County Disaster Council, McLean County Emergency Management Agency, Heartland Community College, Air Traffic Control Tower, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Synergy Flight Center, Transportation Security Administration and Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority. There will also be over fifty volunteers that will serve in a variety of roles to help with the simulated emergency.

Aside from fulfilling CIRA’s FAA requirements for Part 139 compliance, the drill provides an invaluable method of preparing for a possible major event in McLean County that may require emergency response and extensive resources from the community. The McLean County Disaster Council, formed in 1969, promotes cooperation and assistance in disaster operations. The Council conducts an emergency drill with varying scenarios each year to better prepare all participants in case of an actual event.

Media is welcome to attend and should contact Fran Strebing, (309) 663-7384 by Friday, June 10, 2022, for a more detailed schedule and access to the secured observation area prior to the start of the drill exercise on Saturday, June 11, 2022.