A state-wide weather exercise that simulated a tornado in the area of Core Creek Park was held this week by Middletown Township in conjunction with Bucks County.
The exercise included GPS tracking units and Base Camp Map, a relatively new system being used to perform damage assessments when reporting to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for reimbursements, according to officials.
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The fictitious event simulated a tornado at Core Creek to stress the resources of both the municipality and county in order to make state asset requests. In the simulation, three hazardous material incidents, two structure fires, several complete damaged structures, two rescue events, and other less serious events occurred – including a nursing home with a roof blown off with a wall collapsed and eight trapped inside, and a complete collapse of a wood frame day care center with approximately 100 children trapped.
The system gives officials an operational picture of resource needs for crews on the ground. It also simplifies the commonwealth and federal reimbursement and small business disaster loan process for residents, businesses, and municipal governments, according to Middletown Fire Marshal and Emergency Manager Jim McGuire.
The simulation was Middletown Emergency Manager Alan Welsh’s first experience managing a complex incident, which took approximately two hours with limited staff in the Emergency Operations Center.
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“In general things went well, and the new damage assessment system worked as designed. Alan, as expected, did a great job,” McGuire said.
Officials have noted that an after action review with the county is not yet scheduled but is expected in the near future.
