UPDATE: CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
Craven Community College (Craven CC) will conduct a large scale exercise simulating a plane crash on its Havelock campus from 9 a.m. until noon Friday, May 18. This exercise will include triage areas, an aircraft simulator with fire and smoke, participation from local first responders and actors portraying injured victims.
“We conduct one large scale exercise each year to help us improve our safety protocols and our ability to keep everyone on our campus safe during an actual emergency,” said Paul Damico, Craven CC executive director of security and emergency management.
This joint training exercise will allow Craven CC to align its Emergency Management Plan (EMP) with first responders so that agencies can form a seamless approach to an aircraft crash incident while working in a controlled environment.
The scenario for the May 18 exercise is one where a military aircraft crashes into the Redd Building on Havelock’s campus during a normal school day. Upon impact, the aircraft is torn apart and explodes in a plume of fire. There are numerous injuries and fatalities that include the pilot, Craven CC employees and students, who will be covered in special effects makeup and blood to simulate varying injuries.
Fire and rescue units from the City of Havelock, Craven County and MCAS Cherry Point will respond to the scene. Additional participants in this exercise include law enforcement agencies, fire departments, EMS, Carolina East Medical Center, Eastern Carolina Colleges Security Coalition, Crystal Coast Disaster Coalition, MCAS Cherry Point, National Weather Service and Red Cross.
Craven CC is requesting assistance from the media to help notify the public that a safety exercise is occurring on the Havelock campus and not an actual disaster event.
This event is not open to the public.
Craig Ramey, Director of Communications, Craven Community College