Thousands participate in Texas Motor Speedway terror drill

[TexasStooge]

By JIM DOUGLAS / WFAA ABC 8

FORT WORTH, Texas - A simulated terror attack held Monday tested the readiness of hundreds of emergency workers and dozens of North Texas hospitals.

The massive drill simulated a small plane crashing into a large crowd of people at Texas Motor Speedway, and contaminating them with radiation.

John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth received about a hundred casualties; hundreds more went to other hospitals.

"We planned on a plane going 100 miles an hour, at 100 feet, with 100 pounds of explosives," said security expert Danny Defenbaugh.

These weren't just explosives, however; they were wrapped in radioactive material.

Defenbaugh, former Dallas FBI chief, designed the exercise. Speedway EMTs and Fort Worth firefighters carried victims, and helped with triage. About 2,000 volunteers took part, and more than 30 hospitals responded.

The exercise also involved a simulated activation of the region's Medical Emergency Response Center in Irving. The mock disaster, funded by federal grants, was intended to test communication between the many different responders at the state, local and federal levels.

"I think these types of drills are definitely helpful to put a good stress on your system to see how you respond," said Glen Raup of JPS.

Organizers felt if there are ways to improve emergency response in the area, now was the time to find them.