September 03, 2003 On Friday, October 18, 2002, Monroe County Emergency Management facilitated a large-scale emergency response exercise in Marathon Middle / High School with funding provided through a Department of Justice, Anti-Terrorism State and Local Exercise Grant.
The exercise was developed to effectively test and evaluate the response capabilities of all agencies that would likely be involved in a mass casualty incident, including incidents of terrorism, within Monroe County. This exercise tested and evaluated response to a single incident involving numerous casualties, at a single location. Potential strengths and shortfalls were identified, including the communication and coordination between different responding agencies that would impact the outcome in such an event.
The exercise was evaluated and critiqued, with input from all participants, including experts from the Florida's Division of Emergency Management and Palm Beach County Emergency Management. Participants identified both successes and areas for improvement at a debriefing after the exercise.
Members of Marathon Fire – Rescue, Monroe County Fire - Rescue and EMS, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County School District, the American Red Cross, students from Marathon Middle/High School, and the Salvation Army were among the agencies involved.
The exercise lasted approximately five hours, and did not adversely impact traffic or other activities in Marathon. Emergency Management plans for this exercise to become an annual event throughout the Keys, with next year's exercise planned in the Upper Keys and then in the lower Keys the following year. source: Monroe County, communications |
