Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Alex Cabrero Reporting Three vehicles, several explosions and plenty of injuries. Thank goodness this is only a drill.
In Utah alone the past few years, we've had a tornado in Salt Lake, massive flooding in St. George, and a tanker explosion up Spanish Fork Canyon. You never know where and when a tragedy is going to happen, so it's always good to be ready.
Rush Valley in Tooele County was the scene of one of the biggest disaster drills in a long time. There's really nothing out there; it makes you wonder why have a disaster drill there? What could happen? But that's kind of the point.
If a disaster happens here, it's the smaller, volunteer departments that would respond first and they also have to know what to do.
Of all the things you hope never happen, what they prepared for today would have to be high on your list.
Sal Maciel: "I'd probably panic."
Sal Maciel is playing a truck driver who ran into a school bus full of students, while carrying explosives. That crash also caused a tanker to crash, break open and leak dangerous chemicals.
Bill George, Dept. Homeland Security: "It's a slow process when you have the difficulty of not being able to get close."
Of course, as real as this all looked, it's only a drill. It's practice because you'd much rather have these emergency crews do it now for the first time, instead of when it's for real.
Rick Harrison: "This is as close as it gets."
Fire and rescue crews from all across Tooele County took part in this drill. From treating injured students to gearing up in haz-mat suits, the practice allows them to find out what weaknesses they have; and with something this big, weaknesses are bound to be exposed.
Bill George: "Any time you have 20 casualties, it's more than the ambulances can handle all at one time or the firefighters can handle all at one time."
Communication is most important, but so is quickly treating those who are injured.
Stacie Pitt: "They have to get to the people who need it first."
The victims are actually high school drama students who got to see up close how tough a job emergency crews have.
Sal Maciel: "I just hope that something like this never really happens."
The final review on this drill is still being worked on, but early word is residents in Tooele County are safe. Emergency crews showed they could handle something big.
