The Middle Georgia Regional Airport will host a disaster scenario training with emergency response agencies from the central Georgia area at the main terminal at 1000 Terminal Drive on July 13 beginning at 9:00 a.m. A coordinated disaster training is held regularly, and this time the agencies and organizations will practice their response to an active shooter situation, improvised explosive device (IED), and off-site hostage situation. In the past, they have trained for IED and plane crash scenarios.
As part of the simulation, Navicent Health will close Pine Street between New and Spring Streets from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. so its responders can practice their emergency response procedures.
Agencies have met for several weeks to discuss each group’s responsibilities, expertise, needs, and resources, as well as details of the scenario and potential situations that could arise in similar situations. The scenario will include active shooters inside the airport terminal, reports of an IED and lockdown of the airport, a hostage situation in a nearby building, a sweep for additional devices, victim assistance, transportation to area hospitals, and more. Approximately 75 people from the partner agencies will actively participate in this scenario, and about 30 volunteers will participate as bystanders and victims.
“This training is about more than just the simulation; it gives us the chance to work together for several weeks and discuss all angles of a situation and how we would respond,” says Middle Georgia Regional Airport Operations Manager Blake Roy, who is coordinating the simulation. “We learn more about the abilities and resources available to each of us should something happen.”
“This exercise is a prime opportunity for various sections of the Sheriff’s Office to come together to test their emergency response techniques while working alongside other agencies. The opportunity to tackle several different scenarios is an excellent training opportunity for our law enforcement officers, as these situations are unfortunately taking place more frequently in our ever changing world,” says Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. “We look forward to working with other responding area agencies to make sure the best possible outcome will always be the end result.”
“This is an opportunity for us to coordinate and prepare with partner agencies like the airport and the sheriff’s office,” says Spencer Hawkins, Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency Director. “We need to constantly test the system and practice these skills if we are going to be ready to respond as a team for any situation that may arise.”
“Navicent Health appreciates the opportunity to participate in this exercise,” says Steve Ramsey, Emergency Management Specialist for Navicent Health. “This exercise will not only allow us to test our Navicent Health emergency response, but will also provide a wonderful chance to work with other emergency responders and organizations in our community.”
Partner agencies
Middle Georgia Regional Airport
Macon-Bibb County
Bibb County Sheriff’s Office
Macon-Bibb County Fire Department
Macon-Bibb E-911
Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency
Navicent Health
Coliseum Medical Center
Department of Public Health
Mid-Georgia Ambulance
Transportation Security Administration
Georgia Bureau of Investigations
Federal Bureau of Investigations
Community Ambulance
Houston County Fire Department
Houston Healthcare
TBI Airport Management
Department of Homeland Security
Central Georgia Technical College
Middle Georgia State University
American Red Cross
Georgia Air National Guard: 116 Air Control Wing – Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit