PITTSFIELD, MA - A group of first responders are preparing for a worst-case scenario. They're training for a disaster, which is actually a staged event. The emergency response, however, is for real.
"The scenario is an explosion taking place at a sporting event, a number of people transported or walking into local hospitals, causing an overwhelming response to this emergency," said Berkshire Health Systems Media Relations Director Mike Leary.
It's part of a community drill at Reid Middle School in Pittsfield. State, local, and federal agencies worked together on Thursday to simulate a real-life emergency. Inside a gym, first responders fought their way through smoke and debris to rescue potential victims. The goal was to prepare for the unexpected.
Some emergency responders took part in a training exercise, which simulated a disaster at a Pittsfield middle school. Our Ryan Burgess caught up with local police, firefighters and EMTs to find out more.
"It's being used primarily as a training tool for the individuals here at the scene. This is a key training mechanism for them to make sure that they work within the incident command system the way they're suppose to," said Leary.
One thing that's complicated things a little is all the rainy weather. But it's something that could actually help prepare for the unexpected.
"It complicated things a little bit, primarily making us move indoors instead of doing this outdoors. We originally were going to do it out here in the back of Reid Middle School. The reality is these things could happen indoors or outdoors," said Leary.
It's an alarming scenario, but these emergency responders know it's a situation for which they can never be too prepared.