TROY, PA (WENY) -- The Bradford County Department of Public Safety coordinated a mass casualty incident training exercise at Alparon Park on Wednesday morning. The training was designed to test the abilities of first responders, 911 communications, hospital officials, and specialty organizations that care for, treat, and transport people in mass casualty scenarios.  

A mass casualty has a significant number of patients from incidents such as large-scale car accidents, hazardous material exposure, infrastructure collapses, natural disasters, and acts of violence. 

One of the organizers of the event, Keith Stackhouse, said these exercises shed light on Bradford County’s response time and planning when it comes to high stress, mass casualty incidents.  

“We’re finding that...we already requested an aircraft...they’re not available,” Stackhouse said. “A couple of ambulances from Tioga County, Pennsylvania...they’re not available. So, you know, it’s a matter of testing this and we’re going to have to adapt.” 

More than 50 people volunteered to act as patients in the incident. Stackhouse said some adjustments are going to need to be made to the county’s plan when it comes to preparing for a mass casualty incident in the future.