school
district participates in emergency drill
On Sat., Oct. 10, Warwick's Emergency Services, in
cooperation with the Warwick Valley Central School District,
conducted a Mass Casualty Incident Drill as part of a
federal requirement for all agencies in the Town of Warwick.
Throughout the town, many organizations were involved in the
drill which was headed up by Frank Cassanite, Captain of
Warwick EMS and Deputy EMS Coordinator for Orange County.
Taking part in the drill were the Village and Town DPWs,
Fire Police and the Warwick Police Dept., St. Anthony's
Hospital, Warwick EMS Services, the school district,
including District Health and Safety Director John B. Russo,
St. Stephen's school nurse Chris Little, Director of
Business Services Timothy Holmes, Director of Transportation
Rosemary Warrren, Head Bus Driver Carol Mindnich,
Coordinator of Health and Attendance Maggie Adams, Director
of Buildings and Grounds Steven Salvato and several other
staff volunteers. Also volunteering their time were girl
scouts, boy scouts and Jr. Emergency Services personnel.
The emergency drill, as part of the
National Incident Management System (NIMS) requirement, was
staged at two different locations - the old Georgia Pacific
plant in the village, where a radiological event was
simulated, and Sanfordville Elementary School, where a mock
boiler explosion and fire took place.
"These drills are a wonderful training
exercise," said John Russo, "although we hope we will never
have to utilize the information gained from the experience."
He added that the school played a vital part in the drill on
Saturday, providing a school bus and assistance at the
school.
In the past the drills have included
scenarios such as an explosion in a high school lab and a
school bus rollover incident.
Photos by Carol Mindnich.
To view larger images, click on each picture below.
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The smoke-filled Sanfordville cafeteria was the scene for one of the drills on Sat., Oct. 10.
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Sanfordville Elementary during the drill.
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Firefighters during the drill.
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EMS workers tending to the "wounded."
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Warwick Fire and Police
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Warwick firefighter participating in the drill.
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Tending to the "wounded."
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Transporting the "wounded."
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Warwick EMS worker (and school board member) Samantha Sweeton during the drill.
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