BINGHAMTON, NY - A community-wide disaster drill coordinated by Binghamton University’s Decker School of Nursing students, faculty and staff will be held from 7 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, May 6, in the University Events Center.

Over 300 people are expected to participate in the drill. In this mock scenario, the major hospitals have already been overwhelmed with cases by a tornado. The injured residents, played by students, children and adults from the community, will need to be transported to a surge facility (Binghamton University’s Events Center).

Participating community organizations include the American Red Cross, Broome County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), United Health Services, Lourdes Hospital, Harper’s Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service, Vestal Emergency Medical Service, Broome County Health Department, Broome County Emergency Management Services, Binghamton University’s Decker School of Nursing faculty, the Graduate School and students. This year the Broome County Community Organizations Active in Disaster will be setting up Volunteer Reception Center.

The purpose of the drill is to educate and prepare nursing students and community partners to respond to unforeseen disasters. Participants will utilize the Incident Command System (ICS) as an educational tool. ICS is a standardized, all-hazard incident management system used throughout the United States.

Nurses and members of the community are welcome to join. For more information, contact Laura Kasey at kasey@binghamton.edu or Margaret Decker at mdecker@binghamton.edu.