Disaster management put to the test

THICK clouds of smoke billowed over Birdswood and emergency services vehicle sirens wailed as police, fire and rescue services and ambulances raced to the Richards Bay Airport yesterday (Wednesday).

But there was no cause for panic since the ‘disaster’ unfolding at the airport was only a simulated one to test the airport systems as well as emergency services response times in the event of a real calamity..

The airport is required to conduct a full-scale disaster drill every two years according to South African Civil Aviation Authority regulations and it involved participation from all police departments, ambulances, municipal disaster management personnel, traffic and fire and rescue services.

Indiza Airport Management Director Riaan Cilliers said the exercise aimed to get all units involved and for local emergency authorities to communicate with each other and work together as a team.

‘The drill simulated an inbound aircraft which suffered hydraulic failure and crashed on an open field and staff, police and emergency services had to work together and attend to the scene.’

‘The airport’s fire department and airport staff set debris alight and staged dummies ‘injured’ in the crash.

‘We want to ensure that staff are equipped to handle any disaster and that the systems work to satisfaction,’ Cilliers said.