YVR Partners with Salvation Army for Large-Scale Emergency Training and Response Drill
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) hosted an airport-wide emergency training exercise simulating an aircraft incident. Approximately 200 personnel from local, provincial and federal agencies gathered at the airport to test and further strengthen emergency response plans.
During the simulation, members of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services were present and, despite it being a simulation, everyone played their full roles.
“The Salvation Army team is an integral part of the Vancouver Emergency Response Team. We have four specialized vehicles here that are adapted for emergency situations such as plane crashes, natural disasters, etc. Our mission here is to provide full support to all parties involved as the volunteers work on the accident. We are here to provide water and especially food,” explains John McEwan, EDS Specialist.
The YVR airfield, as well as facilities surrounding the airport, were used to practice emergency response plans with airlines, various aviation and related agencies, health authorities, emergency services and municipalities.
“Regular testing of our Emergency Management Plan and training of first responders is a vital part of our emergency preparedness, allowing us to evaluate and refine our emergency protocols. I would like to recognize and thank our YVR staff and volunteers, as
well as hundreds of colleagues from aviation and emergency response agencies across the region for their dedication and support required to conduct an exercise of this scope and scale,” said Andy Margolis, Chief Operating Officer, Vancouver International Airport.
The successful completion of the emergency training exercise at Vancouver International Airport underscores the importance of preparedness in maintaining public safety during critical incidents. The performance of The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Service team ensures that in the event of a real emergency, the response will be rapid, coordinated and effective.