Sleepy Eye holds mock tornado drill

Exercise may aid in developing new emergency operating plan for city

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- Sirens wailed, and emergency service and law enforcement personnel raced to tend to 50 young and old victims in and around Burnside Park Wednesday night during a disaster drill.

Several months of planning went into the event that centered on a mock tornado which tore through a three-block area in the southeast part of town, between the Orchid Inn and swimming pool. The drill was a surprise to responders.

Disaster drills have been held before in Sleepy Eye, but this year, there was added incentive. A new emergency operating plan is being written for the City of Sleepy Eye, ambulance coordinator Shari Hittesdorf said.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sleepy Eye Policeman Jeremy Nachreiner drove to the disaster scene with the roof flashers on. He quickly parked his car and ran towards the swimming pool where victims were moaning and groaning. Nachreiner checked the victims' vital signs.

A car was turned on its side in the Orchid Inn parking lot. Several youths were trapped inside the vehicle. Hysterical mothers were kept away from the car by emergency medical technicians, firefighters and police officers.

A firefighter started a portable gasoline engine that powered Jaws of Life equipment. Other firefighters removed what was left of the front windshield glass of the car and helped youth trapped in the front seat of the vehicle exit the car.

A North Air Ambulance landed near the swimming pool at 6:35 p.m.

A looter was spotted in the neighborhood several minutes later. He left the area before law enforcement could find him.

Two blocks of the three-block area were cleared by Sleepy Eye Ambulance personnel by 6:50 p.m. The final youths were pulled from the tipped vehicle by 6:55 p.m.

Radio traffic between emergency and law enforcement personnel centered on what victims were transported from the area and accounting for all of the victims.

A critique of the drill was held at the Orchid Inn.

"Initially, we didn't have enough help," Hittesdorf said. "It turned out really well. We really learned a lot. In a real situation, we would have received more mutual aid from nearby communities. This is designed to be a tool to build on our services from top to bottom. It was by far the largest drill we've ever had."