Southern Ohio Amateur Radio Association Jim Rowe N8TVO and Mike Love WB8YKS with the Lawrence County, Ohio ARES participated in the Cabell/Wayne West Virginia LEPC full-scale exercise today, October 13 along with amateurs from Cabell and Wayne County, West Virginia and Boyd County, Kentucky.
The four hour scenario opened with a telephone call to Cabell County 911 of an active shooter with massive casualties at Huntington High School. Additionally, a car bombing in the parking lot was reported. This set into motion a full scale response by area law enforcement, EMS, and fire services.
There were 160 casualties (students from Ohio Collins Career Center and St. Mary’s School of Nursing) triaged at the scene and transported to four area hospitals Cabell Huntington Medical Center, St Mary’s Medical Center, River Park Hospital and the Huntington VA Medical Center. Additional participants in the exercise were Cabell County 911 Center, Met C??. EMA Cabell County School Staff, TTA and VA bus transportation and others.
Amateur radio operators provided an important role by traveling on board buses to area hospitals with the casualties to provide critical information to area hospitals and to command centers.
The exercise provided an opportunity for amateurs from three separate states, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky to work together with one control operator. The Tri-State ARA repeater 146.760 was used for the exercise with several backup repeaters available.
A special thank you to Cabell County ARES, EC Greg Hendry W8DUQ for the invitation to participate in the exercise.
Mike Love, WB8YKS
SOAR / ARES
Ohio SAection PIO
