From plane crashes to terrorists, airport meeting focuses on safety, emergency response

RED OAK – Plane crashes, fuel leaks, anti-terrorism tactics and commercial airline landings were all topics of discussion at a Red Oak airport safety briefing.

Airport Manager Gail Ernst organized the event, which he said was designed to give emergency personnel a chance to talk about various scenarios and how to respond to them before they happen.

“It was a really good safety briefing,” Ernst said. “Not just for the pilot, but for the police and fire department to hear things and ask them questions.”

Red Oak Interim Fire Chief Kevin Walford discussed what kind of equipment his department has at its disposal to respond to a plane crash or a fuel leak.

Walford said the department does keep a supply of specially designed foam to be used on extreme temperature fires, such as those involving plane fuel, although that supply is limited.

He also said as soon as they receive a report of the crash, a life flight helicopter is immediately dispatched to transport survivors.

“As good as our hospital is in Red Oak, it’s not a trauma center,” Ernst said when discussing the need to treat patients in Omaha.

Red Oak Police Chief Drue Powers and Montgomery County Sheriff Joe Sampson also discussed their department’s role in a plane crash, which would include securing the scene while keeping the public out.

“We would need to keep the rubber neckers out and being able to control the scene,” Ernst said. “With the highway right there in front of the airport, that produces some different challenges.”

Powers and Sampson also discussed common-sense steps to prevent acts of terrorism.

“We need to observe everybody who is flying in and if someone flies in and refuels, we need to watch and make sure they don’t leave a package behind,” Ernst said.

Ernst said the airport’s 10,000 gallon fuel tank is inspected annually, calling the risk for a leak “very minimal.”

And if a leak did happen, Red Oak’s fire department could help contain it.

“The fire department has some capabilities, but we would probably have to get someone out of Council Bluffs if it was a very substantial leak,” Ernst said.

A discussion also took place regarding the logistics surrounding an emergency commercial jet landing, including a potentially large number of passengers.

Ernst said they would have to look at using the YMCA, the school or the nearby armory for temporary shelter if that were to happen.

About two dozen people attended the meeting, many of whom were pilots who asked questions of the assorted emergency personnel.

After the meeting formally ended after about an hour, many of those pilots stuck around to ask more questions.

Ernst said the safety meeting was the first they have had at the airport for several yearsand that any changes to their emergency response plan will be discussed at the airport commission’s next meeting.

“It was a good meeting just to get together with everyone and clarify what our roles are during an emergency and what resources are out there to help us deal with it,” Ernst said.