Police Will Swarm Dorney Park for Mass Casualty Drill Next Week

If you’re driving past Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Monday, May 13, and see police cars, fire trucks and ambulances amassed, don't be alarmed.

Dorney Park and South Whitehall police are partnering to conduct a full-scale emergency preparedness drill, according to a release from the township.

The drill, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., is sponsored by the Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Counter Terrorism Task Force. 

While the emergency won't be real, the response will be as realistic as possible, officials say. The exercise will simulate a hazardous condition with many casualties during the peak of the park's summer season.

"On a busy day, attendance at Dorney Park can result in the doubling of our population in South Whitehall," said township manager Jon Hammer in the release. "We are committed to the well-being and public safety of our long-term residents as well as our one-day visitors. This exercise is part of our on-going pro-active approach to ensure that our first responders are prepared and equipped to handle any ermergency."

Cetronia ambulance put a call out last month for volunteers to help with the drill.

Here's who is participating:

• Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
• South Whitehall Emergency Management
• South Whitehall Police
• Lehigh Valley Hazmat/Special operations
• Cetronia Ambulance Corps
• Cetronia Fire Department
• Lehigh County 911
• Lehigh County Coroners Office
• Lehigh Valley Health Network
• St. Luke's University Health Network
• Allentown and Bethlehem fire departments

The drill will be structured to sere as a training tool for response personnel.

South Whitehall police and other agencies staged an "active shooter" drill last year at Parkland High School.