Just after 10 am Friday a call came into the Montgomery County 911 dispatch center. The caller, an employee at the Big Rivers Waterpark in New Caney reported an explosion with many injuries. Porter Fire was first on scene and was met with 100 patients, all of which were nursing students at St. Thomas University. All had been made up with fake injuries, and blood. Yellow smoke was emitting from the pump room and screams could be heard throughout the park. Firefighters immediately went to begin triaging patients and getting them out of the gas danger zone. Conroe and Woodlands Hazmat were alerted to respond along with additional departments. A request was put out for mass casualty ambulances. MCHD responded to the scene with multiple units, and Atascocita responded with two mass casualty busses. In addition, Houston Fire responded as did ESD 11 from Harris County. A decontamination unit was set in the parking lot as the first walking wounded were escorted back THe other patients were moved. The real monkey wrench was thrown in as a real house fire came in on 3rd Street in Splendora as East Montgomery County units were responding to the drill. They diverted to the fire. Just after noon the drill was completed and deemed a success. Many firefighters, EMS workers, and Water Park learned where weaknesses were so plans can be made to strengthen them.
