School District, First Responders Prepare For Disaster Relief
What would happen if a large-scale disaster hit eastern Idaho?
It?s a question law enforcement and relief agencies across the region have been trying to answer in a series of earthquake and other disaster preparedness drills over the past two days.
Wednesday?s activity at Hillcrest High School in Ammon was not a ?mass-casualty? drill ? it was a ?mass-care? drill to see how many people volunteers could feed in just an hour.
For Hillcrest senior Kareem Aljayoushi, Wednesday morning?s drill was more than a chance to get outside.
?Yeah, it?s really nice that if something did happen, we have people that are going to take care of us and that we?re all prepared,? said Aljayoushi.
Not to mention the free food.
In all, 26 Red Cross volunteers fed more than 2,000 Hillcrest High and Sand Creek Middle school students ? served with a side of ?peace of mind.?
?We need to be prepared on a large scale to bring lots of agencies together and be prepared to communicate and do whatever?s necessary to keep our kids safe,? said Wendy Horman, a Bonneville District 93 board member.
The district has an agreement with the Red Cross to shelter victims in case of a disaster. On hand Wednesday were representatives from Homeland Security and the Marines, as well as Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little, who says practice makes perfect when it comes to providing food, shelter and safety in a disaster area.
?It?s part of the proper role of government to provide those services in a disaster,? said Little.
Little said in a drill like this, mistakes are often as valuable as success.
“You actually want a few problems because that’s how you get better at it,” said Little.
Wednesday?s drill went smoothly, although there was a bit of a scare when a student experienced a seizure near one of the Red Cross tables.
Given where it happened, and how many first responders were there, we?re told that student is just fine.
Also on hand were the Ammon Fire Department, Idaho Falls Police and the Bonneville County Sheriff?s and Disaster Relief offices.
