City crews run hurricane debris drill to practice clearing streets and interacting with residents

City employees conducted a hurricane debris drill to practice clearing streets and locating residents' belongings, Cheryl Khan, reporter for WPB TV, said.

"This is just part of a drill with city employees playing the roles of devastated residents, trying to find a missing dog in this pile of debris," Khan said, describing an exercise that placed crews amid crushed cars and piles of rubble to simulate post-hurricane conditions.

The exercise aimed to train crews on both technical debris clearing and interpersonal skills. A drill participant (city employee) said crews must balance urgency with empathy: "We have to be empathetic to them because that's like a family member too." The same participant and others used verbal de-escalation during the exercise, for example saying, "Could you please step back?" as crews worked.

Observers evaluated each step of the exercise and provided critiques afterward to help crews improve techniques. Khan said the training emphasized that large piles of debris can prevent emergency vehicles from getting through, making rapid, coordinated clearing critical to public safety.

Khan said city officials expect the training to continue throughout the year. "And this won't be the last of their training. It will continue on the job all year long," she reported.