First responders from around the region will be participating in a full-scale disaster exercise later this week. The emergency training exercises are planned for 9 a.m. to noon April 25 at the Chicago-Rockford International Airport, 60 Airport Drive, Rockford. Local police, firefighters, hospitals and aircraft rescue and firefighter crews will simulate the response to a passenger aircraft crash. Multiple emergency vehicles will also be staged at the airport for the training. The disaster-response exercise is a requirement from the Federal Aviation Administration and must be done every three years. All agencies will be evaluated by a team of experts as they test communications, fire and police response, emergency medical response, multiple casualty hospital plans interagency coordination and the incident command system.
