GILLETTE, WY –
Campbell County Health (CCH) and several other organizations are preparing for a community-wide
Emergency Preparedness Disaster drill to be held in June 2017 and are
looking for members of the community to participate. Volunteers would
pose as victims or distraught family members of a victim. Approximately
three hours on one evening is requested from each volunteer and they must
be 14 years old or older.
Conducting regular disaster drills provides Emergency Management Services
(EMS) and potential affected businesses the opportunity to practice and
assess how to respond to an actual event including response, communications,
staffing, security, supplies, etc. Disasters can be devastating for a
community, but being prepared and working together effectively for the
benefit of the victims is critical in managing the situation.
CCH Disaster Preparedness Director Veronica Taylor encourages citizens
to participate.
“As the emergency medical service provider and only hospital in Campbell
County, we always look for opportunities to improve our processes and
work with the other responders. Being a volunteer for the drill helps
all of the entities involved become better and more prepared for something
that doesn’t happen every day,” says Veronica.
The community-wide drill is a collaboration of many agencies, organizations
and businesses in Campbell County including: American Red Cross; Campbell
County Airport (including the Federal Aviation Association); Campbell
County Emergency Management; Campbell County Fire Department and Sheriff’s
Department; Campbell County Health (including
EMS); Campbell County Public Health; City of Gillette; Gillette Police Department;
Guardian Flight; and Wyoming Life Flight.
No experience is necessary to volunteer to be a “victim” or
“family member”. For more information, or to volunteer, call
the CCH Emergency Preparedness department at 307-688-6040.