RUMFORD – Rumford Hospital will hold its annual disaster drill at about 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30. The drill will also involve Med-Care Ambulance Service and local police and fire departments.

Hospital neighbors will likely see and hear many emergency vehicles and personnel around the hospital campus for more than an hour that evening.

Although the date and time have been announced, the nature of the planned “disaster” will not be announced prior to the drill.

Hospital staff and emergency responders will discover the extent and details of the “problems” after the drill begins, as they would in a normal disaster.

The hospital is required to hold a full-fledged disaster drill each year, as well as telephone and paper drills to determine if enough off-duty staff members can be contacted and how long it would take them to reach the hospital should a real disaster occur.

“We regret any inconvenience the drill may cause the hospital’s neighbors,” said Facilities Manager and Safety Officer Doug West, “and hope they understand the importance of these drills for the safety of the entire community.”