On Saturday May 9, 2009, CSERT Safety conducted a full-scale exercise simulating the crash landing of a Dash-8 aircraft for the Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Task Force (NEPARCTTF). The exercise was hosted at Pocono Mountains Municipal Airport in Pocono Mountain, PA.

The purpose of this exercise was to provide participants with an opportunity to evaluate current response concepts, plans, and capabilities for response to an aircraft crash landing at Pocono Mountain Airport. The exercise focused on key local emergency responder coordination, critical decisions, and the integration of Federal, State and Local assets necessary to save lives, initiate an investigation and protect the public health following a mass casualty event. Additionally, the exercise acted as a tutorial to enhance the understanding of roles, responsibilities, and operational workings of the county coroner’s.

Full-scale exercises teach what to do before you need to do it!