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The often peaceful neighborhood of Maspeth turned into bedlam last weekend after a bomb blew up on the Conrail tracks, leveling a Long Island Rail Road train and killing or injuring more than 100 people.

Or at least that’s how the story went. Nobody was really hurt. No bomb actually blew up. But the city’s emergency services were put to the test in Operation Trifecta, a daylong terror drill staged in Queens on Sunday.

The drill tested the NYPD, FDNY and more than 20 other local, state and federal agencies on their response to the chemical explosion. 1,500 response workers took part in the drill, which cost approximately $700,000 on a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

“I’m happy and I’m actually a little surprised that it worked as well as it did,” said Office of Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno.

Emergency officials will evaluate response times and other critical procedures over the next several months and a full report on the exercise will be released over the summer.
Queens will continue with a keen eye on disaster response as the New York Disaster Interfaith Services and the OEM will offer emergency preparedness training as it pertains to Houses of Worship. The Queens event will be held at Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center at 113-01 101st Ave. in Richmond Hill on Wednesday, April 5, between 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The event is open to the public, and will offer a presentation on how to put together a household disaster plan. Event lecturers will provide training on the significance of a Go Bag – a household emergency supply kit – and a House of Worship response plan to be prepared for any emergency.

To learn more, go to www.nyc.gov.