Two events where held in Tully Saturday, aimed at spreading awareness about emergency preparedness and the people involved in an emergency situations. As YNN's Erin Clarke tells us, it wasn't planned, but a mass casualty drill and the Tully Fire District's Recruit New York Day complemented each other perfectly.

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TULLY, N.Y. -- It looked like a serious accident, but a staged car and bus collision Saturday was part of Tully Central School's first mass casualty drill. The event was for school officials to improve their way of handling emergency situations.

"Preparation, knowing how to communicate with the parents, the authorities, the emergency workers, making sure everybody is accounted for," said Tully Central Schools Bus Driver, Betsy Velonis.

Although the event was for the adults, student volunteers participating in the drill say they learned a little something too.

"I think it's important for everyone to know how to handle a situation like that," said Sydney Dennison.

The Tully Fire Department was also at the drill. Coincidentally it fell during Recruit New York weekend, giving firefighters a unique way to show folks what they do.

"That further gets our message out there that this is something that you don't have to be a professional to do. We get the same training that most professional firefighters get, but it's something that's available as a way of helping our community," said Tully Fire District First Assistant Chief, Steven Shahan.

Recruit New York is a statewide push to recruit volunteer firefighters. Their numbers have been down recently.

"People are much more busy. They have more commitments with work. A lot of people are working two jobs," said Shahan.

But Tully Fire District members hope that will change, especially after people saw what a vital role these men and women play in keeping the community safe.