Loud Emergency Drill May Cause Early Traffic Tie-Up
The explosions and sirens planned in Newport Harbor this morning may sound like a disaster, but the only real problem will be the traffic jam that results from the emergency drill, a Newport Beach fire spokesman said.
The mock mishap on a tugboat in the harbor’s turning basin will include 12 “victims” in the water, another 108 on board and three jarring explosions at 8:55 a.m.
“They will be rather large, for sure,” Newport Fire & Marine Department Lt. John Blauer said.
The drill is an annual test for all the agencies in the area that would respond to such a disaster, including the Coast Guard, Red Cross, Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol and various city and county fire and police departments and hospitals, he said.
“One hospital in the area couldn’t take 120 victims,” Blauer said. “It’s an opportunity to exercise the complete system in case of a multicasualty accident.”
After the rescue begins, the victims will be transferred to ambulances on Lido Island for the trip to area hospitals, he said.
Apart from the noise, Blauer said the biggest inconvenience for anyone not involved in the drill will probably be tied-up traffic in the area about 9 a.m.
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