Drill's 'Total Chaos' Helps Brick Prep For Real Disasters

BRICK, NJ — Smoke rising into the air on Sunday may have raised eyebrows of some residents, but for the Brick Township Police Department and several other agencies, it was sign that intensive training was underway to make sure everyone was ready for an emergency.

The drill called "Operation Total Chaos" was held at the township's Fire Training Academy on Herbertsville Road and included multiple problems at once, said Brick Sgt. Jim Kelly, the department's public information officer.

Among the challenges: a large propane tank fire; overturned vehicles and an overturned school bus, all with victims inside; a building rescue; live wires on the ground; a search in an open field for victims and a large debris field.

There were about 80 people who participated, including both the role-players in the emergency situations and the emergency personnel who responded, Kelly said.

The drill was developed by Brick Township EMS Director Rob Contreras and Manchester EMS Director Rob Baran, Kelly said.

"The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate players' actions against current response plans and capabilities responding to a weather-related emergency in Ocean County," Contreras said.

The drill, which started about 8:30 a.m. Sunday, lasted more than two hours. Fire and EMS personnel worked together to extricate wounded victims from vehicles while dealing with fires, smoke and live wires on the ground.

Victims were triaged, treated and rehabbed as each circumstance dictated. Special equipment was used, such as a Mass Care Response Unit and an Alternative Support Apparatus all-terrain vehicle.

The emergency personnel used the Incident Command System to organize the response, which is the same system utilized for emergency response throughout the country, and afterward, everyone was debriefed by the incident commanders and several participants shared their insights and lessons from running such an elaborate drill.

"Everyone did a fantastic job," Contreras said. He thanked Dr. Ken Lavelle, the department's medical director, who oversaw the health and safety of our participants.

"Through this exercise we were able to identify areas where we can improve, such as interagency communications and triaging victims," Contreras said.

"Everyone did a great job," Brick Township Police Chief James Riccio said. "Drills like this are important to help to identify areas where we can do better and prepare for emergencies when they really happen. It was good to see all these agencies coming together and working as a team."

Riccio was joined in observing the drill by Joe Pawlowicz, coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management; Brick Township Safety Officer Ron Gaskill, and the Brick Township Fire Bureau.

The agencies that took part in the drill were:

• Manchester Township EMS
• Jackson Township EMS
• Lakewood Township EMS
• Berkeley Township EMS
• Ocean County EMS Coordinators
• Brick Township Office of Emergency Management
• Brick Township Fire Bureau
• Herbertsville Fire Company
• Laurelton Fire Company
• Pioneer Hose Fire Company
• Brick Township Police
• Brick Township EMS

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