A school bus explosion, students shot, a boat crash, hostage situations at Aberdeen City Hall and the Bel Air Courthouse ? all in a day?s work for Harford County emergency responders.
At least they were on Wednesday, when a five-stage drill, meant to test the capabilities of emergency responders, kicked off in Havre de Grace with the bus explosion around 11:30 a.m.
“Harford County, Company Five, 100 Lagaret Drive, building fire with explosion ? this is a drill,” came the call over the scanner. Susquehanna Hose Company responders ? Company 5 ? soon realized it was no building fire.
Staged by the State Fire Marshal?s Office Bomb Squad, a bus and two cars ? all three stripped down ? were set on fire, and a small explosion was set off at the Havre de Grace Community Center.
The scenario was said to be an intentional attack on a convoy of buses en route to a political rally, according to Maj. John Van Gilder of the Havre de Grace Police Department.
Numerous actors feigned assorted injuries, while police, fire and emergency medical personnel attempted to ascertain what happened and treat the injured.
The action then shifted to downtown Havre de Grace, where the “suspects” in the bombing were said to have fled. Taking refuge in Havre de Grace High School, the suspects had supposedly shot two students and were holding others hostage.
“We have learned a lot. We have learned what we need to improve upon, and what we have done well,” said Havre de Grace Police Chief Teresa Walter.
She said, in general, communications needed improvement, but she was surprised at how well all of the agencies involved worked together.
The drill at the high school, and later in the day at the Bel Air Courthouse, also allowed members of the Harford County Sheriff?s Office Special Response Team to test their skills, according to Bob Thomas, a spokesman for the office.
Down at Havre de Grace?s waterfront, two more suspects had stolen a boat in an attempt to escape, only to collide with another boat, causing another “explosion.” Members of the Susquehanna Hose Company?s Water Rescue Unit worked to recover the bodies ? four mannequins, according to Rich Gardiner, a spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association.
Aberdeen City Hall became the site for the next stage in the drill, which consisted of a suspect from the Havre de Grace bombing taking Aberdeen City Manager Doug Miller and Councilman David Yensan hostage.
Grants from the Department of Homeland Security and Harford County government funded the countywide drill. About 120 volunteers participated as actors.
