First Responders Practice Rescues

First Responders remove "victim" from tunnel during rescue practice

More than 100 emergency responders from across Mississippi are in the Jackson area this week, honing their search and rescue skills. MPB’s Stephen Koranda has more.

At an abandoned cement plant outside the city, the first responders are taking part in a full-scale simulation on rescuing victims from a collapsed building. In one part of the exercise, rescuers have to remove debris from the opening of a six foot wide tunnel. More than 100 feet inside, working in ankle deep water, they’re cutting through metal debris to get to a victim.

This is the first large-scale exercise of this type in the state. It was made possible by the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security. J. Ledbetter is the office director.

“Homeland Security has funded the equipment you see here, we funded the training for these guys, we funded the certifications, and now we fund these exercises where it all comes together. We make sure this guy can work with this guy, can work with this piece of equipment. These are just imperative.”

Ledbetter says improving these skills is especially important with hurricane season less than two months away.