MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- Public safety workers successfully completed an emergency drill at Myrtle Beach International Airport Tuesday afternoon.
This is the scenario public safety workers throughout Horry County responded to: A Lockheed L 100, belonging to Petronational, flying to the Gulf Coast carrying 65 passengers, an assortment of drums of oil, and its crew crash lands at Myrtle Beach International. The aircraft loses a wing and catches on fire.
MYR's interim marketing director, Kim Dahlin, said everyone involved exceeded expectations and worked as though there were serious injuries. However, Tuesday's drill was focused more on the communication aspect of the disaster rather than on triage. "We do all different kinds of scenarios so in case of an emergency we are completely prepared and everybody is on board and has already had that communication and knows how to improve that system."
As part of the scenario, crews also simulated shutting down the airport. "We're here to save lives, we're here to prevent property damage and we're here to get the airport back in business as fast as we can," Dahlin said.
The FAA requires responders to complete an emergency drill once every three years, but Horry County responders complete one annually. "We do this, of course to follow regulations, but also to improve the system. Not just for an airport emergency, but for a fire or a hurricane. There are lots of other things that can happen," Dahlin added.
Horry County Fire Rescue, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department, 911, Grand Strand Regional Hospital, Horry County Police and Myrtle Beach International Airport officials participated in Tuesday's drill.
