On Wednesday, November 29th, the Tampa Convention Center hosted a ‘mass casualty’ drill for law enforcement, the fire department, and 25 other participating agencies.
The intended purpose of the drill is to prepare, train, and ready first responders for worst case scenarios or disasters.
The Mayor of Tampa, Jane Castor, made some very positive and reassuring statements about the drill, stating “It prepares us to respond effectively to any worst-case scenario and ensures the safety of our community.”
A video was posted on the Tampa Police Department and City of Tampa’s X page, formerly known as Twitter, where the Chief of Tampa Police, Lee Bercaw, offered some insight on the drill.
“Nobody ever wants a critical incident or mass casualty incident to happen,” Bercaw said.
The drill was taken very seriously and done as a full scale exercise, including ‘victims’ with bloody wounds, innocent by standards, and simulated explosions.
Should disaster strike the Tampa area, it is vital that all public agencies and first responders know how to react.
“Everybody wants everybody to be prepared and know what to do,” Bercaw said.
Officer James Author of the Tampa Police Department said they run these drills about “every six months or so.”
But while these drills are ran a few times a year and are standard practice, according to Fox 13, this one was “bigger than what we’ve seen in years past.”
Overall the drill was considered a success, and Mayor Castor was appreciative of the efforts from first responders and other agencies participating in the drill.
“I am proud of our city’s proactive approach and the commitment to readiness of our police and fire personnel have in the face of unforeseen disasters,” Castor said.
