HAYDEN - Regional hospitals, EMS units, the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and others will discover Thursday how prepared they are to respond to an earthquake.

An exercise designed and coordinated by the Panhandle Health District will test a variety of hospital procedures: decontaminating people exposed to hazardous materials; finding care for patients when all hospital beds are full; communicating among agencies when phone lines are down; and activating volunteer groups. The exercise is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"From these exercises, we learn to cooperate and collaborate in a non-threatening environment so we can do it well during a real event," says Darrel Kirking, program manager of PHD's Public Health Preparedness program.

Annual exercises help the health care field in the five northern counties improve its preparations to respond to residents' needs during and after disasters. Area hospitals test procedures for fatality management, evacuation of patients and staff, and communication, among much more.

"We develop a scenario that could really happen in our area," Kirking says.

The degree of activity during Thursday's mock disaster will vary from hospital to hospital. In Bonners Ferry, high school students playing injured townspeople will descend on Boundary Community Hospital, testing the hospital's ability to handle a medical surge.

In St. Maries, Benewah Community Hospital, Benewah County Office of Emergency Management, St. Maries Fire, Benewah County Search & Rescue and others will set up a decontamination tent at the Benewah County Fairgrounds.

Shoshone Medical Center also will practice using its decontamination unit.