This morning in Santa Cruz, there is a county wide hospital evacuation drill taking place. To monitor the drill, listen in on the K6BJ repeater at 146.790- PL 94.8 from 8:30 am – 11:30 am.

Reprint from the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

SANTA CRUZ: Hospitals to stage evacuation drill

The Santa Cruz County Public Health Department will stage an evacuation drill involving Dominican Hospital, Watsonville Community Hospital and Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center on Wednesday.

“Operation Holy Smoke” will take place 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The drill is designed to test the ability of the community to respond to one hospital’s need to evacuate patients and move them to a different facility.

No actual patients will be moved, but the exercise will examine communications and coordination activities related to a full hospital evacuation. The exercise, funded by a grant, fulfills accreditation requirements for the hospitals.

Other participants include the Emergency Operations Center, the Medical Reserve Corps, the Amateur Radio Emergency Services, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, San Benito County, San Mateo County and law enforcement and fire agencies from Santa Cruz and Capitola.