West Palm Beach runs realistic hurricane drill; officials and rescue staff urge residents to prepare, include pets

West Palm Beach emergency crews ran a realistic hurricane-response drill and held related training and exhibits ahead of hurricane season, Sheryl Hahn said. The exercises included simulated collapsed vehicles, role-playing “devastated residents,” and evaluations intended to improve street-clearing and victim-assistance procedures.

The drill matters because piled debris can block emergency vehicles and because first responders must combine technical skills with empathy when survivors arrive at chaotic scenes, Hahn reported. Observers conducted critiques after the exercises to identify areas for improvement.

City employees played the roles of residents searching for missing pets and personal belongings amid rubble as crews practiced extraction and traffic clearance. "This is just part of a drill with city employees playing the roles of devastated residents, trying to find a missing dog in this pile of debris, a purse that was left in a crushed car," Hahn said. Participants were evaluated on both operational…