By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Fort Dodge, IA – The Fort Dodge Regional Airport will conduct a full-scale emergency disaster drill Tuesday morning as part of its ongoing safety and preparedness efforts.
The exercise is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on May 12 and will simulate an aircraft emergency involving multiple responding agencies. Airport officials said the drill is required under federal aviation regulations and is designed to test coordination and response capabilities during a major incident.
Airport Director Sarah Rustvold said the exercise plays an important role in preparing emergency personnel for real-world situations.
“This full-scale exercise is critical to ensuring that all responding agencies are prepared to act quickly and effectively in the event of a real emergency,” Rustvold said. “Training under realistic conditions helps strengthen coordination and enhances the safety of our passengers, staff, and community.”
As part of the drill, trained personnel will ignite and extinguish a controlled live fire to evaluate emergency response procedures and effectiveness. Residents and businesses near the airport may notice smoke, flames and increased emergency vehicle activity during the exercise.
Officials emphasized that the event is only a training exercise and there is no cause for public concern.
Airport operations and commercial air service are expected to continue as normal during the drill. Officials said the scheduled afternoon United Airlines flight from Fort Dodge to Chicago will not be affected.