Mass casualty exercise to be held in Pueblo Wednesday
Editor’s Note: Changed the name of the hospital to UCHealth Parkview Medical Center
(PUEBLO, Colo.) — If you see a large amount of first responders or vehicles in Pueblo on Wednesday, May 8, there is no cause for alarm, as a mass casualty exercise will be taking place in multiple locations.
The exercise scenario will involve a simulated airplane crash at the Pueblo Memorial Airport located at 31201 Bryan Circle in Pueblo, requiring the activation of the Emergency Operations Center, the Pueblo Community Joint Information Center, Pueblo County fire agencies, and local hospitals.
According to the City of Pueblo, the drill is being conducted by the Pueblo County Fire Chiefs, and the results will be evaluated by Pueblo County and the State of Colorado. The exercise is scheduled to begin at approximately 9 a.m. and conclude sometime in the early afternoon.
The City said members of the public may see exercise-related activity in the area of the airport and along Highway 96. Responders may be dressed in full protective equipment and mock accident victims will receive realistic-looking injury make-up called moulage. Emergency equipment and vehicles will be deployed to the scene at the airport as well as UCHealth Parkview Medical Center and St. Mary Corwin Hospital.
The exercise is designed to test the Pueblo County Mass Casualty Incident plan that was created in 2019 by the Pueblo County Fire Chiefs and updated in 2023. Nearly 150 people from more than a dozen first-response agencies in Pueblo County will participate.
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