NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University recently hosted its 12th annual Missouri Hope emergency response field training exercise at the Mozingo Outdoor Education Recreation Area (MOERA). The event, which took place over three days, aimed to help students and emergency personnel develop their skills in disaster management through realistic simulations.

Participants engaged in various scenarios based on a fictional tornado striking Redden Village. These scenarios included search-and-rescue operations, assessing traumatic injuries, and evacuating victims from challenging terrains like cliffs and rivers. About 35 participants with basic emergency management skills joined nearly 20 advanced participants experienced in medical operations for the exercise.

Peter Wheeler, a nursing student from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, described the challenge of the exercise: “It was exactly as hard as I thought it would be,” he said after completing one scenario. The exercise also attracted students from Northern Oklahoma College and two New York institutions, alongside Northwest's own students.

The event saw participation from approximately 50 staff members and experts representing 15 partner agencies. These professionals provided support while volunteer role players portrayed disaster victims with realistic injuries using moulage.

Travis Surprise, an instructor of emergency and disaster management at Northwest, emphasized the learning aspect of the exercise: “You want to fail when it’s make-believe," he stated. "What I really like about it is the subject experts know that."

The chaotic scenarios allowed teams to assess their performance and improve through repeated iterations. Elijah Dix, a freshman EDM major at Northwest, participated in a water-based rescue scenario. He noted that although initially overwhelming, the experience was valuable for gaining confidence in life-saving skills.

Kate Sloan, a nurse who previously participated as a student and now supports current participants at Missouri Hope, highlighted the growth opportunities offered by the event: “We want to see everybody grow and develop their skills and their confidence.”

Missouri Hope provides participants with not only task-related skills but also leadership abilities and team-building experiences. As Travis Surprise explained, "I want them to walk away with the ability to network with subject matter experts as well as other participants."

The event is sponsored each fall by Northwest's non-profit organization focused on disaster response education. Partner agencies include local public safety departments and military units such as Maryville Public Safety and the 1-129th Field Artillery Battalion Missouri Army National Guard.

MOERA serves as an outdoor educational facility offering diverse activities including challenge courses and archery. It is operated by Northwest Missouri State University at Mozingo Lake Recreation Park.