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Carroll Squadron assists in county-wide disaster drill
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A huge gray cloud of smoke heads upwards after mock terrorists blow up a railroad car during recent disaster drill in New Windsor, Maryland.
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By
Brenda A. Reed, 2dLt, CAP
Public Affairs Officer
Posted June 22, 2005
NEW WINDSOR, MD -- On a sunny June 17, members of Civil Air Patrol's Carroll Composite Squadron met in New Windsor, Maryland, for a squadron activity. After attending an orientation meeting, C/Lt Col Rachel Gibbs, 18, and C/A1C Justin Sova, 13, were tasked to go to the nearby carnival grounds.
Within minutes of arriving at their destination, a large explosion rocked the ground and huge cloud of gray smoke rose into the air. Gibbs and Sova, being close to the explosion, lay motionless on the ground. While the remaining squadron members were rushed into a make-shift emergency shelter, there was no hope for the two cadets in the field. A fireman checked their vital signs and pronounced them dead at the scene.
Fortunately, Gibbs and Sova were acting out assigned roles in a mock disaster designed to test the preparedness of Carroll County emergency responders. By noon, the two cadets were alive and well, eating their lunch and laughing with their friends.
Carroll County hosted the mock disaster where fire, emergency medical personnel, and police responded to an explosion from a railroad tanker filled with anhydrous ammonia, a corrosive chemical which affects the eyes, throat and respiratory system. County SWAT teams were called in to capture the terrorists who planted the explosives, while police corded off the area to anyone other than emergency responders who assisted the victims.
The Carroll Composite Squadron assisted in the disaster drill on a number of fronts. First Lt. Kevin McHale, squadron commander, and First Lt. Mike Zabetakis, Carroll's emergency services officer, were involved in the planning stages with the county.
McHale served as an official observer for the exercise, documenting the successes and failures of the responders. Zabetakis was stationed in the mobile command center, working alongside the sheriff's department and providing radio communications to the CAP aircrew above.
Up in the air, the crew came from three squadrons in Maryland Wings Group II. Captain Bill Parris, from the Glenn L. Martin squadron, circled the aircraft over the disaster site for most of the morning with Carroll squadron's Cadet Second Lt. Ari Rabe serving as mission observer. This allowed First Lt. Philip Szczepanski, from the Harford squadron, to take timed photographs requested by the county. These photographs were distributed to a number of Carroll County offices and will allow county officials to document movement on the ground and the times various events occurred.
Meanwhile, First Lt. Tom Reed, Carroll's deputy commander for cadets, led the 27 Carroll cadets and family members that joined other "victims" in the exercise. Most of these victims were assigned to go to the shelter, where they acted anxious, asking many questions of the Red Cross volunteers. Each one was assigned a specific role to play. Reed helped coach cadets on how to best portray their characters. It was important that they remain in character for the duration of the exercise.
Cadet Master Sgt. Glen Edwards appeared overly concerned for his friend, Cadet Basic Chris Kaczorowski, who had been "injured" during the explosion. Edwards refused to leave his friend while the head and leg wounds were being treated. Cadet Master Sgt. Chiara Burgan very realistically portrayed an extremely emotional shelter victim with her crying. Cadet Technical Sgt. Nick Bamford provided a challenge to the Red Cross when they learned he did not speak English and had to find someone to interpret. Other squadron members that had simulated injuries were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The hospitals were also evaluated for their response in this exercise.
Several members of the Carroll squadron were involved in the after action meeting and provided valuable feedback to the county. During this meeting, CAP was applauded for their assistance in the drill. Captain Vincent Maas, of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department, thanked the squadron and said he "looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership."
Lessons learned from the day will assist the county's emergency service personnel in case a real disaster were to occur. Carroll Composite Squadron and Group II members were proud to be a part is this important drill.
Civil Air Patrol, the official U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, is a civilian, volunteer, nonprofit, service organization. The unpaid members perform more than 95 percent of inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue and Coordination Center. There are currently more than 1,200 members in the Maryland Wing.
CAP's cadet programs provide young men and women with a safe and motivating environment in which to grow and explore opportunities in the military and aviation industries. Cadets progress through a 16-step program of leadership and aerospace education.
The Carroll Composite Squadron meets Tuesday evenings at Westminster High School on Washington Road in Westminster, Maryland. Prospective cadets, ages 12-18, and their parents are always welcome. More information can be found at www.carrollcap.org.
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