Large-scale emergency drill held in Queen Creek, Pinal County

A bustling command center, first-responders wearing hazard suits all walked among injured patients receiving treatment.

That was the scene in Queen Creek and Casa Grande as Pinal County held a multiagency, full-scale emergency drill Wednesday.

The drill was a simulated chemical release caused by a train derailment and involved numerous first responder agencies from all levels of government, including law enforcement, the National Guard, fire departments and emergency medical services.

The event was meant to test and evaluate the interoperability, communication and operational readiness of first responders in the event of a large-scale incident.

“It really helps prepare us to make sure that we have everything in place in terms of the right personnel and equipment and that we know all the next steps that need to happen,” said Dr. Sarah Bannister, chief medical officer for Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, in a videotaped interview provided by Pinal County.

The emergency exercise took place at the Banner Health Center on South Ellsworth Loop Road in Queen Creek, and two locations in Casa Grande — the vacant outlet mall parking lot on East Tanger Drive and Banner Casa Grande on East Florence Boulevard.

Throughout the locations, some first-responders were dressed in hazard suits as they treated “patients” who had been exposed to chemicals released during the mock train derailment. They also treated patients made up with bruises and cuts inside triage tents.

There also was a command center where various agencies coordinated a response to the emergency.

“We’re able to coordinate care for the patients that we have in house, as well as being able to properly triage any of the mass casualty patients that we have coming in, as well as any community members who still need emergency care.” Bannister said.

She added she was grateful to all first responders who took part in the exercise and helped her team learn what to do in the case of a real emergency.

“This is our opportunity to essentially have mistakes, to be able to identify what we need to do better, what did we do well and how can we make sure that this is as smooth as possible,” Bannister said.

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