A mock disaster training exercise at the Sportsplex here on June 7 was successfully completed by Centre Wellington officials and first responders.
The event, code named “Operation Dorothy,” saw emergency personnel responding to a tornado sweeping through a festival crowd at the Sports facility. The exercise was overseen by Wellington County emergency management officials, with the local emergency plan and response tested.
Linda Dickson, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the exercise involved about 60 emergency personnel and staff and was completed successfully.
Tom Mulvey, public safety officer and district chief of Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue, said the exercise was a valuable learning tool for all emergency responders in the community and at the county level.
“The exercise went great, it is always a challenge as far as communications go,” he said. “We had fire, police, ambulance, CW Hydro, St. John Ambulance, Red Cross, CW Roads, Victim Services involved and everyone worked great together.
“I hope we never have to use this training in a real life situation, but being able to test things out in a field exercise will certainly ensure that if the time ever comes, we will be ready.”
Dickson said, “There were some specific lessons learned that we will be following up on, but the learning that takes place through running an emergency management exercise and working together to prepare and conduct the exercise is invaluable.
“In my view and experience, there is value in the planning and preparation that takes place for emergencies but the networking and working together ahead of time can’t be measured and is so very important. Holding these exercises really helps to build the networking and teamwork that is important for successful coordination.”
In a press release from the township, human resources and payroll coordinator Julie Bott said Centre Wellington successfully tested its emergency response plan. “The teamwork demonstrated between our municipal departments and support agencies continues to attest to the superior knowledge and abilities we have available to our residents within our wonderful community,” Bott said.
Dickson would not comment on any shortfalls discovered in the plan from the mock disaster.
“I can’t provide that yet,” she said in an email to the Advertiser. “We had two separate debriefs; one at the EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and one at the site and we need to have a meeting to review.”
