First responders were put to the test Saturday at a simulated mass casualty situation in Buchanan.

The Buchanan/Verplanck Elementary School was the backdrop of a fake bomb explosion. The halls filled with smoke, making it difficult for emergency responders to find the people who were injured. EMTs began the process of triaging victims and getting the most seriously injured to local hospitals.

Deputy Commissioner John Jackson of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services says the training scenarios need to be as realistic as possible. To add to the tension, the simulated attack included a second bomb, one that was located and diffused before it could go off.

All the towns, the county and the state departments that participated will receive a report card to see if procedures should be changed in the event of a real emergency.