Exercise Mission

The Beleaguered Bus Exercise was designed to test the skills and capacity of Leon County emergency response personnel in responding to a epidemiological threat. Participants in the exercises included:

• Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross
• Capital Regional Medical Center
• Leon County Health Department
• Leon County Emergency Management Department
• Leon County Emergency Medical Services
• Leon County Sheriff's Office
• Tallahassee Fire Department
• Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
• Tallahassee Police Department

As part of the Capital Area Citizen Corps initiative, Boy Scouts from the Suwannee River Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America participated in the exercise as simulated victims.

Exercise	Format
Beleaguered Bus - 2004	HTML

Exercise Backgrounder

On a cool Presidents Day weekend a troop of 43 Boy Scouts begin their return trip to Tallahassee after spending the three weekend attending the North Florida Camporee held in the Osceola National Forest just west of Jacksonville.

On the bus ride back to Tallahassee several Boy Scouts began to feel ill. One of the Boy Scout leaders, with medical training, began to worry about the young men in his care.

As the bus began to roll into Leon County one of the Boy Scouts went into cough spasms that racked his body and his fever was clearly elevated. To the distress of the Boy Scout leaders he began coughing up blood.

The medically-trained Boy Scout leader demanded that the bus driver stop the bus immediately and call in a 911 medical emergency. The buss driver pulled over and did just that.

This is where the Beleaguered Bus Exercise begins.

	One the chartered bus carrying Boy Scouts pulls off the road, most of the Boy Scouts and their leaders exited the bus.
	The Tallahassee Fire Department arrives to support the unfolding operation.
	Emergency Management from Leon County and the State of Florida also arrive on site.
	Incident Command is established with all the various response agencies participating.
	Planning the next step!
	Two American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) were used to support the Mass Care (Feeding) the exercise activities.
	In support of the Leon County Health Department's request to establish an Isolation Center to host the Boy Scouts and their leaders, the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross deployed one of its Shelter Trailers. Supplies from the trailer were used by the Leon County Health Department as they operated the Isolation Center.
	The Beleaguered Bus arrives!
	The Leon County Health Department begins their care for the victims in the Isolation Center.
	One of the Boy Scout leaders was sight impaired and required special attention due to her guide dog.
	An so begins what would be a long wait for the Boy Scouts and their leaders in the Isolation Center.
	Leon County Health Department staff continue to screen the Boy Scouts and their leaders.
	Both ERVs remain at the Isolation Center to support Mass Care (Feeding) requirements.
	At the end of the exercise, all the exercise participants and simulated victims (Boy Scouts) were served a meal pizza from ERV # 1074.
	Exercise evaluators compare their notes and preparation for the Exercise Hot Wash.
	All the participating agencies took part in the Exercise Hot Wash for the Beleaguered Bus Exercise.