More than 900 personnel respond to simulated disaster in 2 hours
By Janelle Foskett

One exciting event from this morning’s General Session was a validation drill for the Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).

The exercise began at 8:30 a.m. at which time 33 task forces from as far as Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan began responding non-emergency to one of the three staging areas in Chicago, the site of a simulated disaster involving multiple F-4 tornadoes touching down. Each task force was comprised of three engines, one ladder company, one ambulance and a chief officer with aide.

Based on the standard 90/90 exercises (90 pieces of equipment in 90 minutes), this demonstration took it one step further, showing more than 200 pieces of equipment in 2 hours.

Two times after commencing the general session, IAFC President Jeff Johnson checked on the progress of the event through the live video feed. At 9:30 a.m.—1 hour after the exercise began—10 of the 33 task forces (280 personnel) had arrived at the staging areas. In addition to seeing these apparatus arrive at the staging areas, attendees were able to witness the activities happening within the Red Center in Northbrook, the controlling dispatch center for the event.

At the conclusion of the session, all 33 task forces had arrived at one of the three staging areas for a total of 297 apparatus and 924 personnel.

After seeing the success of the exercise, Johnson added that responders should, “Do your part to ensure you’re ready to respond in a similar fashion,”

Janelle Foskett is the managing editor of FireRescue magazine.

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