Rapid City Regional Airport will host Rushmore Response, its full-scale emergency exercise, on September 23. Required by the Federal Aviation Administration every 36 months, the exercise tests the Airport Emergency Plan and the ability of airport staff, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services and other community partners to respond together during a simulated aircraft emergency.
Public volunteers are essential to creating a realistic scenario and helping responders practice passenger accountability, triage, treatment and transportation. Volunteers will receive a T-shirt and boxed lunch.
September 23, 2026
3:30 PM – Volunteers report
5:00 PM – Exercise starts
7:00 PM – Expected end of exercise
