With "wounded" people and emergency workers busy helping, the front of Co-Line's main office looks like a scene from a movie during the training exercise last Wednesday.
A large emergency response presence was in the Sully area on Wednesday, June 3, but thankfully it was only for a large-scale training exercise.
That afternoon, more than 200 first responders and volunteers participated in a simulated active-shooter exercise at Co-Line Manufacturing, south of Sully. A car accident was also staged at the intersection of F62 and T33 by the Sully Cemetery, requiring a diversion of resources needed at the same time of the active-shooter event at Co-Line.
The entire event was conducted by Jasper County Emergency Management, in conjunction with emergency management from Marion, Mahaska, Poweshiek, and Iowa Counties. The exercise brought together law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch centers, hospitals, emergency management, CERT volunteers, state partners, LifeFlight Des Moines, and many other partners from across the region.
The goal of the event was to test plans, communications, coordination, and response capabilities during a complex, rapidly evolving incident. A big part of the active-shooter training was related to getting medical attention to victims while a dangerous situation is ongoing, according to Jasper County Emergency Management Director Jamey Robinson.
“That’s where we bring EMS and fire together with law enforcement, building what we call a ‘Rescue Task Force,’ to get them into those facilities quickly so they can render aid,” he explained. “It’s still a warm zone because they haven’t swept the entire facility. They just get a certain area ‘locked down’ so we can get those resources in there very quickly.”
Robinson was pleased with the results of the exercise. He noted some first responders from Poweshiek County were not able to participate in the entire simulation due to a fatal semi-train collision between Brooklyn and Victor.
Fifty-two Co-Line employees volunteered to participate in the event during their workday. From being the shooter, to the injured, to the deceased, the employees performed their roles very well. “Injured” employees were transported by ambulance to area hospitals to also test the medical response system with a tragedy of this scope.
“Our local area is blessed with dedicated law enforcement, medical, fire, and other support personnel that silently serve our communities and counties every day,” said Co-Line co-owner Eric Brand. “Providing the Co-Line facilities to be able to help further the training of these teams is the least that we can do. While I hope our organization or community never have to experience an event of this type, it was impressive to see firsthand the efforts and response of these individuals in a time of simulated need.”
After the event, all participants were invited to Sully Community Church for a “hotwash,” or review of what went well and what could use improvement.
A post on the Jasper EMA Facebook page thanked everyone who helped with the important training exercise. It read, “Months of planning led up to today's event, but the real value comes from the lessons learned, relationships strengthened, and capabilities tested. While we hope to never face an incident like the one simulated today, training together ensures we are better prepared to respond if we do.
“Thank you to everyone who helped make this exercise a success. Today was a great example of what can be accomplished when agencies and communities work together toward a common goal.”
