Large-scale disaster drill at Tulsa International Airport

Nearly thirty private companies and agencies from all levels of government took part in a large-scale disaster drill at Tulsa International Airport Thursday morning.

The drill simulated a scenario in which a large tornado strikes in Jenks, then on the next day a smaller but deadly tornado hits the airport.

In the scenario, an aircraft bound for Dallas/Ft. Worth from South America gets diverted to Tulsa because of weather, and that aircraft gets badly damaged by the second tornado.

With resources already stretched thin, how will emergency responders handle the second tornado scene, involving as it does international passengers, federally-controlled air space, a large debris field and multiple casualties?

It was designed around two actual incidents, one a small F1 tornado which hit TIA in April, 2006 and the other a tornado which struck Lambert - St. Louis International Airport in April, 2011.

Some 300 participants took part in the exercise, including members of all Tulsa area emergency agencies, the airport, a number of state and federal agencies, and several private companies.

The drill took on added significance in the wake of a massive and deadly EF5 tornado which ripped through Oklahoma City and Moore just over a week ago, killing 24 people and damaging or destroying thousands of buildings and vehicles.