Sioux City's Response To The United Airlines Flight 232

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Sioux City’s Response to Crisis. On July 19, 1989, United Airlines Flight 232 experienced an unforeseen circumstance that caused a crash landing in Sioux City, IA. As the plane neared Sioux Gateway Airport, a mix of people, from emergency workers to community members, prepared to help survivors and deal with the incoming crash. After the crash, the Sioux City community came together to mourn this tragedy in the city, and to show how they could come back stronger after this disaster. The response to the United Airlines Flight 232 crash in Sioux City showed the importance of unity and resilience among first responders, volunteers, and community members to overcome a crisis. United Airlines Flight 232 had originally taken off from Denver, Colorado, …show more content…

“The National Guard troops, the Red Cross, the Department of Transportation, the Highway Patrol, local law enforcement, and other public safety and emergency groups were participating in a one-day test of preparedness for a hypothetical nuclear power plant accident” (Brown et al. 1989). The 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Secondary' of the 'Se Earlier, about two years back, the city had undergone two other mock accidents in which the emergency personnel worked through the issue of an air crash and a bank robbery. Due to the preparedness of the city in these mock accidents, the emergency personnel, as well as the community, knew what was expected of them if the time came for a real emergency. As happened on July 19, the community of 82,000 people in Sioux City were ready to respond and react to the tragic events during the crash of United Airlines Flight 232. By the time the flight crashed, most of the rescue personnel were already stationed and ready to help out in the aftermath of the crash, along with everyone else in the community getting to where they needed to be to help out in this situation. This drill, which was run two years prior, was shown …show more content…

Briar Cliff housed a great number of the survivors, but many of the people staying at the college were family members waiting to identify their deceased loved one’s body from the crash. On the first night of the crash, Briar Cliff housed 55 survivors. Within the next few days, family members of the passengers on the plane started rolling in and Briar Cliff housed its capacity of around 200 survivors, family members, and support personnel. The campus provided “the peacefulness in the midst of all the pain ministered to all the people” (Fox 1989). About 50-100 students were there at the time and they provided vast amounts of help during the crisis. They cleaned, cooked, washed dishes and sheets, bussed food, and helped people around campus. “Averno Hall served as the nerve center for the great and spontaneous outpouring of assistance to passengers and family members during the traumatic aftermath of the crash” (Gunsolley 1989). The biggest example of support from the community, however, was the fact that Briar Cliff did not spend a single cent on any of the services held in their building. The community donated everything that was used for the survivors and families of the crash. Meals and food were donated from local restaurants and grocery stores, clothes for survivors were donated from thrift shops and community members, and sheets and mattresses

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