Disaster Exercise Precedes Utah Air Show

May 14--HILL AIR FORCE BASE _ Even though the plane crash and the hundreds of injuries that followed were fake, Top of Utah emergency responders moved with the urgency and intensity of a real-world disaster.

More than 500 people, which included personnel from nearly 30 local emergency response agencies and students from the Clearfield Job Corps Center, tested their ability to jointly respond to a mass casualty situation at Hill Air Force Base.

The exercise was held in preparation for this year's "Warriors Over the Wasatch" open house and air show, scheduled for June 28-29 at Hill.

The mock disaster scenario was that of an F-16 jet crashing into a large crowd of people. Shortly after 9 a.m., chaos ensued, with ambulance sirens blaring, helicopters landing and mock victims screaming and writhing on the flight line cement.

Hill Fire Chief Paul Erickson said more than 400 emergency responders participated in the event, along with about 200 Clearfield Job Corps students who played the part of injured victims.

Before the event started, participants were briefed on the exercise and told to make it as realistic as possible. "Run, don't walk," was the instruction shouted from leaders of the exercise.

Kathryn L. Kolbe, commander of Hill's 75th Air Base Wing, said the base regularly works with outside emergency agencies, but Wednesday's exercise was specifically designed to mimic the worst possible outcome at the air show.

Kolbe said officials don't expect that outcome to occur, but preparing for it is still a necessity.

"We do this in advance of every air show," Kolbe said. "Just to be prepared for the worst-case scenario."

Helyse Turner, business and community director for the Clearfield Job Corps, said students were adorned with makeup to simulate flesh wounds and given index cards that told them which symptoms to act out. Emergency responders tailored their care to how the students acted and responded to questions.

Job Corps student Michael Miller had a large bandage wrapped around his head covering a massive wound.

When asked to describe his symptoms, Miller said, "I don't know. I'm confused and can't find my sandwich."

Students were actually transported by bus and by helicopter to several local hospitals along the Wasatch Front, adding to the authenticity of the exercise.

"We want to make this as real as possible," said Maj. Chris Long, Hill's air show coordinator. "We're acting as if this is the real thing."

Long said organizers expect nearly 500,000 spectators to attend the two-day air show, which will run from about 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee works with Hill to put on the show. The committee has raised nearly $500,000 in private donations to fund this year's show. Hill contributes about $120,000 to the show, which comes from the base's Operations and Maintenance Budget.

A complete list of all air show performers can be found at www.theutahairshow.com.

Those interested in attending the show can also visit Hill's official air show site at www.hill.af.mil/warriorsoverthewasatch/. As the event nears, the site will feature a parking plan for the show, directions, the show's layout, and other details.

Contact reporter Mitch Shaw at 801-625-4233 or mishaw@standard.net. Follow him on Twitter at @mitchshaw23.

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