STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Look for a major airport disaster near you this coming week.

The Friedman Memorial Airport will host its federal-required triennial emergency drill beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The live exercise will simulate a major airport disaster to test emergency coordination and response skills of the airport and first responders like local fire departments. Local residents should expect to see smoke and an increased presence of police and other first responders on Tuesday.

But this year’s disaster will not use community volunteers to play the role of passengers and bystanders because of the COVID pandemic.

“While we will certainly miss interacting with them, their safety and well-being are first and foremost,” said Airport Manager Chris Pomeroy.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires all airports to conduct an exercise of this nature every three years.

Questions? Call Greg Beaver at 208-788-4956, extension 161.