When Preparation Meets Reality
Inside Victorian Village’s Emergency Drill
Preparation does not begin when an emergency happens. It begins long before, with thoughtful planning, conversation, and a clear understanding of how to respond when something unexpected occurs.
That commitment was on full display during a recent full-scale emergency drill conducted in partnership with the Northwest Homer Fire Protection District, additional firefighters from surrounding communities, Homer Glen emergency management, and Silver Cross Hospital. The exercise followed weeks of preparation between Victorian Village leadership and first responders, beginning with a detailed tabletop exercise where teams worked through a realistic emergency scenario step by step.
The goal went far beyond simply conducting a drill. The exercise was designed to strengthen communication, improve coordination, and ensure staff and first responders could work seamlessly together to protect residents if a real emergency were ever to occur.
“We were able to see how everything connects in real time,” said Executive Director Jamie Krieps. “The planning we did ahead of time made a big difference in how smoothly things ran.”
The scenario centered on a carbon monoxide incident involving residents in one building on campus. Although no residents were transported to hospitals, the drill was conducted as realistically as possible. Silver Cross Hospital participated as if it were an actual emergency, working through response protocols and preparing to receive patients if needed.
Even the arrival of responders was intentionally staged. Although crews were already on campus before the exercise began, they waited to simulate a response with realistic timing and conditions. Participants were reminded beforehand that the purpose was to test operations and learn from the process.
As the fire chief arrived on scene, updates were provided in real time while responders worked through the scenario exactly as they would during a true emergency. Floor leaders were assigned to manage communication and activity on each level, helping maintain organization as more responders entered the building.
Movement throughout the building was carefully coordinated. The fire department took control of the elevators to manage evacuation and maintain order as residents were moved safely out of affected areas. Room numbers were called out and tracked continuously so responders could confirm which areas had been cleared. The Victorian Village team had resident information and room assignments readily available, allowing staff and first responders to communicate quickly and accurately as conditions changed.
That level of preparation mattered.
As the drill progressed, teams adjusted their strategy in real time. Initially, residents were moved down floors and across corridors to the connecting building. However, as the pace increased and the need for faster movement became clear, responders began directing residents outside and across to another building on campus.
The layout of the Victorian Village campus became an important advantage during the exercise. Connected buildings, underground access points, and multiple gathering spaces gave teams options to move residents efficiently while keeping them safe.
Throughout the process, Victorian Village staff worked side by side with first responders to assist residents, provide information, and help maintain calm during the evacuation.
What stood out most during the drill was how controlled the response felt, even with dozens of people involved.
John, a resident and former volunteer firefighter in Orland Park, watched the exercise unfold with a trained eye.
“It looked like it went very well. It was very well organized,” he said. “Normally, drills get a little messed up. But this one felt calm and controlled.”
That calm did not happen by accident. It was the result of preparation, communication, and collaboration between Victorian Village and the agencies involved.
The drill also reinforced an important reality about emergency response in senior living communities. Situations are rarely as simple as people imagine. Evacuation is not always the immediate first step. In some situations, especially in healthcare settings, it can be safer to isolate an area, control the environment, and move residents gradually in a coordinated manner.
Exercises like this allow teams to work through those decisions before they are faced with them in real life.
They also help strengthen relationships between staff and first responders. By working together ahead of time, teams gain familiarity with the building, the residents, and each other’s responsibilities. That coordination becomes critical during a real emergency.
For Victorian Village, the drill was ultimately about reassurance.
It was about making sure residents remain safe, informed, and cared for, even in unexpected situations. It was about ensuring staff and first responders are prepared to work together under pressure. Most importantly, it was about building confidence that the systems designed to protect residents will work when they are needed most.
When preparation meets reality, the goal is not simply to respond. It is to respond with clarity, coordination, and care.
