The city of Plainview held an emergency management exercise, and invited emergency workers from all across the region to simulate how the area would respond if a tornado were to strike. Lieutenant Jaime Salinas with the Plainview Police Department said they hope to bring the community closer with this exercise.
“We’re testing out our ability and what we have here and its not just local its regional too,” said Salinas. “We’ve got ambulances from Amarillo, Olton, and Floydada.”
EMS workers were stationed at the Ollie Liner Center, in the fictional event that the tornado damaged the hospital. Workers from all over the region came to transport victims and treat their various injuries. Trauma Director, Brenda Linville said it was a chaotic morning.
“It gives us a chance to practice what it would be like in a real scenario if we had an actual disaster, “ said Linville. “It gives us a chance to realize what we need and different opportunities that may come up.”
To make the exercise as realistic as possible, nearly 160 students from South Plains College volunteered as ‘tornado victims’, where they were each given different injuries ranging in severity. They were transferred from the college parking lot, where the Fire Department was, to the Ollie Liners Center. Student, Austin Goolsby said he wants to be a paramedic, and he really got a taste for the career today.
“It’s a little scary that people are going to call and say we need you for this many people, “ said Goolsby. “This is a good way to help us get prepared.”
