Onslow County Emergency Services is holding a mass casualty exercise in partnership with Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune and Onslow Memorial Hospital. The first phase of the exercise takes place on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at the Onslow County Fairgrounds. The second phase takes place on Thursday, April 27, 2023 at both Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune and Onslow Memorial Hospital.
During the April 18 field exercise Onslow County Emergency Services will simulate a response to an explosion and mass casualty event. The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police, and Jacksonville Fire & Emergency Services will also participate in the training. Lejeune High School students, Marines, and some Onslow County personnel will participate as actors simulating injuries to provide greater immersion for the first responders.
Citizens in the Georgetown area of Jacksonville should be aware that there may be a large amount of emergency vehicles and personnel while the exercise is taking place on Tuesday, April 18.
Onslow County Emergency Services Director Norman Bryson says this joint training keeps first responders prepared and makes the community safer. “A full-scale exercise is an integral part of emergency and disaster preparation. We are very fortunate in this upcoming exercise to be working very closely with local first responders as well as both hospitals to test policies, personnel skills, and equipment in the event of a mass casualty emergency.”
The April 27 medical portion of the mass casualty exercise takes place at both Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune and Onslow Memorial Hospital. Students from White Oak High School and Lejeune High School, as well as active duty Marines will participate as patients. The goal of this portion of the exercise is to test and prepare patient tracking and triage at area medical facilities.
Media are invited to attend both days of the Onslow County mass casualty training exercise. Media interested in covering the field exercise portion of the exercise on April 18, 2023 should email Kevin_Reopelle@OnslowCountyNC.gov by 5PM on Monday, April 17 for coordination.
Media interested in covering the medical portion of the exercise on April 27, 2023 should contact either Onslow Memorial Hospital CommunicationsTeam@onslow.org or Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune riley.e.eversull.civ@health.mil by 2 p.m. on April 25 to coordinate coverage.