Shooting Drill

School Shooting Exercise a Success by Brad Patrick From an operational standpoint, the turn-out for the "School Shooting Exercise" was more than sufficient. The multi-departmental drill tested the skills and training of Ardmores first responder community, and the community itself. Numerous volunteers gathered to support the emergency response from a logistics standpoint, offering everything from pastorial and councilling services, to water distribution and emergency communications. Our radio operators manned stations at the scene, and at the Emergency Operations Center downtown, and at the hospital Incident Command at Mercy Health Center. Two shooters entered the SOTC facility and dispatched many students and faculty. Victims were transported via SOAS ambulance or Eagle Med One chopper to Mercy for emergency care. Various situations were inserted into the drill to muddle up the smooth flowing operation. Evaluators from various cities and departments observed the operations and gave their recommendations for improvement, along with their accolades for a job well done. Significant improvement was noted from last years exercise, with communications remaining the primary concern. HAM OPS had concise em comm at a professional level until our information flow was purposely interupted by the IC, and patient information decreased to carrier pigeon levels without us. After the exercise, all personnel were treated to a scrumptious lunch provided by SOTC, and then a "hot wash" or debriefing in seminar A. After all departments had given their assessments of the exercise, we were dismissed without further ceremony. SOARESSS operators had our own short debriefing, and made adjustments in procedural elements of our own operating protocols. The exercise was a great success, and and another feather in the cap of HAM operators from Ardmore and Durant.

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