Enoree Students Participate in Weapons of Mass Destruction Exercise

On 10-13-09, several programs here at Enoree Career Center collaborated with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division in a Weapons of Mass Destruction exercise conducted at Greenville Spartanburg Airport. Students were requested to role play injured victims for this exercise, which would evaluate the response and procedures of several upstate agencies during a WMD exercise. On the day of this exercise, approximately forty-six students arrived here at Enoree between 4:45-5:15 a.m. This early arrival time allowed the students and staff to depart Enoree around 5:30 a.m. Although most students rested on the chartered bus provided by South Carolina EMD, some students still had enough energy to debate the channel of choice (MTV) with staff. After arrival, our first assignment was to report to the Federal Express building where students would receive assignments then prepare for moulage. Even with the cold weather conditions, the students stepped up as the volunteers applied  pre-made rubber wounds consisting of  broken  limbs, chest wounds, head injuries, and many more. After several minutes, the Federal Express building staging area began to give the image of a movie set. The images surely provided elements of realism. During this time several other participants from upstate career centers arrived and went through the same process. Once all students, approximately 140, had completed the moulage they were given an opportunity to eat breakfast before heading out to the crash site. While being transported to the crash site the students were informed that the scenario involved a plane crash that resulted in mass casualties. The conditions of the crash site, although challenging at times due to muddy condition and cold weather, was a 300 yard emergency landing strip. This area gave the image that the plane may have landed on a roadway and collided with several vehicles in its pathway before coming to a stop. The students were placed in assigned areas using wrecked cars, buses, and anything in-between to add to the realism for the emergency responders. Approximately fifteen minutes after students were in place, the magnitude of this exercise became apparent. Emergency agencies from several locations in the upstate responded to this exercise. The students were evaluated by the degree of injuries and determination was made by responders who to evacuate first. Most were transported on all terrain vehicles back to the area where the EMS staff and vehicles were waiting to transport to one of several hospitals involved in this exercise.  During this time, students also had the opportunity to witness the collaboration of several agencies coming together and working as one. Whether being, the fire department using its decontamination center, extricating a victim from a vehicle, or medical personal rendering medical attention. The students were exposed to several jobs that fall under the emergency management umbrella. After transporting all wounded students to the hospital via bus or EMS vehicle, students were processed through the hospital. The staff evaluated injuries, completed needed paperwork and rendered appropriate medical attention. The students who were not transported to one of the seven hospitals were used as role players at the Greenville/ Spartanburg Airport. These students and some staff members were to pose as upset or irate parents wanting information from airport staff about the crash. While at their respected locations, students were fed and later transported back to the Federal Express Building before returning to Enoree.