September 10, 2002
Tuesday - 12:30 am

According to KIA Business Manager Lance Mertz, on September 14, 2002 the Ketchikan International Airport and local emergency agencies will be conducting a Disaster

The Disaster Preparedness Exercise at the Ketchikan International Airport is expected to start at 3:00 PM and last about two hours.

Preparedness Exercise at the Ketchikan International Airport. This will involve a simulated aircraft crash and the rescue and recovery efforts the airport and local mutual aid agencies would conduct in such an event. The exercise is expected to start at 3:00 PM and last about two hours. It is being structured and located in such a way as to not impact on flight operations. The exercise is to comply with the FAA requirement that such exercises be conducted every three years by airports that have air carrier operations.

The public should expect to see emergency vehicles responding and driving through town to and from the airport ferry terminal and at the airport. Those with scanners will hear radio transmissions, which would be identified as "exercise" messages during the exercise. There will also be a second ferry operation during the exercise in order to not impact on normal airport traffic.

This practice will allow the airport and its support agencies to simulate the response, communications and coordination involved in emergencies at the airport. Participants include the Ketchikan International Airport staff, City of Ketchikan Fire Department and Police Department, State of Alaska Troopers, Ketchikan General Hospital, South Tongass Fire Department, Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Service, Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines and the U.S. Coast Guard. As with all airports, the Ketchikan International Airport depends on these support agencies to supplement its Airport Fire Rescue Fire Fighters and other staff in the event of emergencies.

In addition to the support agencies volunteers from the Ketchikan High School Vocational Medical Program, members of the media and others will act as survivors, family members and play other roles, allowing for more realism the exercise.

For more information please contact the Airport Manager's office at 225-6800.

Source of News Release:

Ketchikan International Airport

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