Airports KOA Flexes Emergency Response Muscles in Two-Part Triennial Exercise By: Rae Nguyen Photos: Cy Duvauchelle
mission - the first ever conducted for Airports Division that included various federal, state and county agencies airport tenants addressing a makebelieve scenario of a fiery airplane crash. Following FEMA’s National Incident Command System (NIMS) by utilizing the Incident Command System (ICS), AIR-H’s ADM Chauncey Wong Yuen and ARFF Fire Chief Max Matias have spent a few short weeks preparing and executing appropriate responses to emergencies and disasters.
If you ever wonder if disaster strikes, whether it’s an airplane crash, active shooter or even a tsunami in Kona and how the airport will react accordingly, you can rest assured. Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport successfully completed its FAA Part 139 requirement triennial exercise Feb. 19 and Feb. 26. The emergency response drill tests how quickly and efficiently airport personnel and other agencies react in a crisis.
Rescue, recovery and EOC operations play was the second part of the exercise. Feedback from controllers and evaluators have been positive. Mahalo to the many agencies, companies, organizations and volunteers for participating! Hawaii County Fire Dept. | Kona Community Hospital | Hawaii Life Flight | Southwest Airlines | Hawaiian Airlines | Red Cross | FAA | DOT KOA Admin, Maintenance and ARFF | HPD | Securitas Security Services | Vol Fire 9B | Station 7 B HFC | Company 9-Bravo | CBP | AMR | FBI | Fukushima Ohana | DOT ITO ARFF and Admin | PTA Fire | BaseGroup | DOT OGG ARFF
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