ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Nearly 100 first responders, emergency managers and volunteers took part in Operation Dark Horizon \u2014 a full-scale nighttime emergency response exercise at Orlando International Airport designed to sharpen coordination during a high-consequence incident, according to the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC).<\/p>\n
What happened in the exercise?<\/p>\n
In a release, officials said participants responded to a simulated natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion, described as a \u201cgiant fireball,\u201d as agencies worked through a complex, fast-moving scenario on airport property.<\/p>\n
Operation Dark Horizon (Joshua Sheldon)Who took part?<\/p>\n
Mutual-aid partners and airport crews trained side-by-side, including:<\/p>\n
Orlando Fire Department<\/p>\n
Orange County Fire Rescue<\/p>\n
Orlando International Airport Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)<\/p>\n
Additional agencies supported and evaluated the operation, including:<\/p>\n
Volusia County Fire Rescue<\/p>\n
Cocoa Fire Department<\/p>\n
Seminole County Emergency Management<\/p>\n
Operation Dark Horizon (Jill Hemmerlein)Volunteers helped make it realistic<\/p>\n
Organizers said volunteer participation helped create more authentic conditions and strengthened cross-sector collaboration. Volunteers included members from:<\/p>\n
University of Central Florida<\/p>\n
Orlando Health<\/p>\n
The Salvation Army<\/p>\n
Other community organizations<\/p>\n
Why does it matter?<\/p>\n
\u201cFlorida has experienced numerous complex incidents in recent years, and with critical infrastructure located within densely populated communities, this exercise is critical to strengthening interagency coordination and ensuring first responders and partner agencies are prepared to effectively manage high-consequence incidents,\u201d said Volusia County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Heather Lorimor, an evaluator who also chairs the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).<\/p>\n
How was it funded?<\/p>\n
The exercise was funded through the Pipeline Emergency Response Grant (PERG) from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), awarded to the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC).<\/p>\n
Organizers said the grant supported:<\/p>\n
A\u00a0vulnerability study<\/p>\n
Training<\/p>\n
Planning efforts\u00a0leading up to the exercise<\/p>\n
Who developed the exercise?<\/p>\n
The scenario and exercise design were developed by the ECFRPC, along with representatives from:<\/p>\n
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA)<\/p>\n
Florida Gas Transmission (FGT)<\/p>\n
Bottom line<\/p>\n
Organizers said Operation Dark Horizon reinforced local, regional and industry partners\u2019 shared commitment to protecting lives, property and critical infrastructure through training, planning and cross-jurisdictional cooperation.<\/p>\n
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