According to the Port of Seattle, Sea-Tac Airport will conduct a full-scale emergency exercise simulating an aircraft crash on Wed., July 30th, between 9am and Noon.

The exercise will test airfield disaster preparedness and response as required by the FAA every three years.

It’d be cool if something like this happened, but we kinda doubt it:

According to the Port:

With the availability of the soon-to-be-activated third runway, this will be the first full-scale exercise to occur on a Sea-Tac runway in at least 25 years. The exercise will NOT affect or delay any air travel. Both of Sea-Tac’s current runways will be open as normal and the exercise will NOT affect any customer activity within the terminal.

Over 100 volunteers will participate as ‘victims’ next to a mock-up aircraft fuselage placed in the middle of the third runway along with wrecked cars representing various debris designed to drill extrication procedures. Volunteers will arrive at approximately 6:30 a.m. for make-up to represent a variety of injuries that will test medical care triage practices.

Dozens of the King County area mutual aid police and fire agencies will participate in the exercise with an estimated 50 -75 pieces of equipment from fire engines to aid cars and up to 175 fire fighters. Additional police officers from the area are also expected to participate alongside first responders from the Port of Seattle Fire and Police Departments, Sea-Tac Airport Security, Airport Operations, Public Information and the Port Environmental team.

In addition, other key exercise participants will include airport and airline representatives, the FAA, the Red Cross, King County Emergency Management Division, and the King County Medical Examiner.

A comprehensive report will be prepared post-exercise to identify any gaps in emergency plans and then prioritize follow-up corrective actions.

SOURCE:

• Port of Seattle

Last Thursday, Burien Towing’s Mark Storer, 51, and his son Brian, 24, were killed in a floatplane crash near Shelton, WA.

A memorial service for both has been scheduled for this Thursday, July 31st at 11am at the Church by the Side of the Road, which is located at 3455 S 148th Street in Tukwila (map below).

According to the Burien Towing website:

• Mark and Brian took the afternoon off work to spend some time together in Mark’s amphibious airplane.
• The two were last seen enjoying the day on Lake Nahwatzel, before the plane’s engine failed shortly after taking off. Both died in the crash.
• Mark was a dedicated father and husband. He loved his family and will be missed by many.
• Brian was married and was a father of 2 young boys, ages 2 and 1. He also loved his family very much and will be missed.
• Both Mark and Brian dedicated much of their lives to the family business. Airport Towing mourns their passing and supports the families they have left behind.
• Any gifts or cards for the families are currently being collected at the main office:

Burien Towing
817 SW 149th Street
Burien, WA 98166

• All who knew Mark and Brian are invited to attend the service.
• Prior to the ceremony, a procession will lead the family to the Church from the Airport Towing office at 817 SW 149th Street in Burien. The lead car will leave the office at 10am.
• If you would like to join the procession, please arrive prior to 9:45am at the Airport Towing office for staging.
• All law enforcement vehicles, fire apparatus, tow trucks, and motorcycles are welcome in the procession.
• For more information on the procession, fill out the Contact form and Jared will respond to your inquiry.
• Following the service will be a reception at the Church. All are welcome to attend.
• A fund is currently being set up to benefit Brian’s family. Brian leaves behind a wife of 3 years and two sons, ages 2 and 1. Information on the Storer Family Memorial Fund will be posted when available.
• More information is available at jaredstorer.blogspot.com

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SEATAC – Carbon monoxide poisoning caused nine people to be rushed to the hospital Thursday night, including three police officers assisting other victims.

King County Sheriff’s spokesman John Urquhart said deputies responded to reports of a carbon monoxide leak at a home in the 4800 block of South 172nd before 9pm. They arrived to find six people who had already become sick from the gas.

Deputies learned the situation started when the driver of a taxi cab pulled into the home’s garage and left it running for an undetermined amount of time, allowing the gas to spread through the house.

A man and a woman who were inside at the time were overcome by the carbon monoxide within minutes and passed out. A third person who entered a house also passed out.

A short time later a woman and her two children arrived at the home and found the three unconscious. She and her children quickly fled the house and called 911.

While trying to help the residents, three SeaTac police officers also began to feel ill. The officers, the three unconscious people and the 911 caller and her children were all taken to the hospital.

Seven victims were taken to Harborview Medical Center and the rest were taken to Virginia Mason Medical Center. Their names are not known.

“We don’t know for sure, but it certainly looks like the three people in the house - most likely live there. The woman who came in a little later with her two kids lives in a house behind this residence,” Urquhart said.

Three of the victims are said to be in critical condition. All of the officers are said to be in satisfactory condition.

It is not known why the cab was left running in the garage, but investigators do not suspect foul play.

SOURCE:

• KOMO News