Chemical Emergency Response More Efficient
(Courtesy of the Richmond Register, published January 15, 2008)

Earthquake Drill to Be Held February 5th, 2008

Madison County will participate in a state-wide earthquake drill on Tuesday Feb.5 at 10:07 a.m.  The drill is expected to last 5-10 minutes.

Residents should be aware this drill will activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS) over local radio and cable stations, and tone alert radios.  The outdoor warning sirens will also sound for the drill.

Contact the Madison County EMA at 624-4787

Chemical ‘victims’ saved
Mock disaster drill a success despite wet weather
(Courtesy of The Richmond Register, published October 25, 2007)

The rainy weather Wednesday did not stop Madison County’s annual mock disaster drill from kicking off and being a success.

Evaluators from the Army, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and other CSEPP (Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program) representatives gathered in Richmond to form an evaluation of emergency preparedness in the county.

“They made quite an effort, and it shows,” said Steve Horwitz with FEMA. “From my perspective, they covered the functions that needed to be covered.”

The mock disaster began at about 8:30 a.m. and the county’s 29 emergency sirens chimed to let people know to take action.

“Although we know its an exercise, we take the same actions as we would in a real life situation,” said Dick Sloan, public affairs officer for Blue Grass Chemical Activity.

A one-ton container, designed for chemicals, was being moved from one side of the storage igloo to the other side, Sloan said.

It fell off the fork lift during its move, cracked and spilled onto the igloo floor, rolling into the igloo’s open doorway.

The first step was to notify county emergency agencies so they could help the residents evacuate if needed.

Depot officials and employees took care of those who may have been exposed or injured during the accident.

The total damage was then assessed and the tank was taken out of the doorway so that the igloo could remain closed.

Workers took care of the liquid agent outside, and used a decontamination solution for the rest of the igloo’s floor surface, Sloan said.

All parts of the exercise went relatively well, Sloan said.

A draft report will be submitted to Blue Grass Chemical Activity.

“There were some challenges and we learned some things,” said Kelley McBride, public information officer for Madison County’s EMA (Emergency Management Agency)/CSEPP. “Not everything is perfect, but we didn’t expect it to be.”

This year’s exercise involved a lot of participation from Madison County schools and there were more schools participating in the event than ever before.

“I have never seen a group of children that well behaved,” said Karen Drewen, CSEPP public affairs officer based in Maryland. Drewen was referring to how well the students responded to the “shelter in place” command.

“They knew exactly what they needed to do. The staff and the principals did an excellent job. It was really apparent to me that they have practiced this and they know what they’re doing, and it’s a major accomplishment for this community.”

Those participating in the event were the Blue Grass Army Depot, Madison County EMA/CSEPP and representatives from local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, medical personnel from Pattie A. Clay and Berea hospitals, Madison County Health Department, Eastern Kentucky University and Madison County schools.

“Each year we strive to improve our readiness to deal with possible emergencies in Madison County,” said Carl Richards, director of the Madison County EMA. “These annual exercises put our personnel through their paces to practice the plans we have in place. The cooperation among agencies makes us all better at what we do.”

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.

Officials seek faster destruction of weapons
(Courtesy of The Richmond Register, published October 24, 2007)

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-5th, is joining forces with U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and others in speeding up the process of destroying chemical weapons stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot and in Colorado.

A letter from Chandler’s office was sent Oct. 19 to Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Service Committee, and to Duncan Hunter, a ranking committee member, in support of the recent 2008 Defense Authorization Bill that was an effort of McConnell and Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado.

The letter also is signed by U.S. Reps. John Salzar, D-Colo., Geoff Davis, R-Ky., Harold Rogers, R-Ky., Ron Lewis, R-Ky., Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., Mark Udall, D-Colo., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., and John Yarmuth, D-Ky.

A previous Pentagon budget proposal moved the deadline for chemical weapons destruction from 2012 (which was set by the international Chemical Weapons Convention) to 2023. The deadline already has been extended from 2007 to 2012 as a result of funding stopped by the Pentagon in 2005.

Chandler reminded Skelton and Hunter that the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty requires weapons disposal by 2012.

“The 523 tons of nerve and blister agent at the Blue Grass depot, and the 2,611 tons of mustard agency at the Pueblo (Colo.) depot pose serious risks as the Cold War-era weapons continue to age becoming less stable and serve as terrorist targets,” Chandler wrote. “Not only would a shorter deadline help protect these communities, but it would also save taxpayers about $3.3 billion.”

The bill states: “The United States is committed to making every effort to safely dispose of its entire chemical weapons stockpile by the Chemical Weapons Convention extended deadline of April 29, 2012, or as soon thereafter as possible, and will carry out all of its other obligations under that convention.”

Establishing a new, closer deadline “will ensure that cleanup will be a top priority,” Allard said.

The Senate version of the fiscal year 2008 Defense Authorization Bill includes the 2017 deadline, “which is absolutely essential for the safe disposal of dangerous chemical weapons on American soil. We are urging conferees to include this critical language in the final bill,” Chandler wrote.

Construction of the pilot plant continues and so far has cost $43,025,148 with $25,438,634 going to Madison County businesses, $2,050,324 going to Kentucky businesses outside of Madison County and $15,536,190 going to businesses outside the state, according to information released in the October project status.

Roadway concrete, potable water and sewer, perimeter fencing, access road, active security vehicle barrier, control building, associated utilities and temporary electrical substation all have been completed.

The update includes works in progress, including the installation of underground utilities, a personnel support building and a maintenance building.

Visit pmacwa.army.mil for more information about the Blue Grass Army weapons disposal project.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.

Lessons learned from mock shooting
(Courtesy of the Richmond Register)

By Ronica Shannon
Register News Writer

As soon as the gunfire began Thursday morning in the Wallace Building on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus, the county Emergency Management Association (EMA) and several other emergency response groups sprang into action.

Fortunately, this was only a mock campus shooting that served as a response exercise for the city’s and county’s first responders.

The Madison County EMA/CSEPP (Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program) and EKU sponsored the event that was in addition to the annual county-wide mock disaster the EMA/CSEPP staff perform in the fall.

This was the first time that a mock disaster scenario drill was conducted on EKU’s campus.

“Exercises like this enable an institution like EKU to further enhance its own safety measures,” said Marc Whitt, associate vice president for public relations and marketing at EKU. “No one ever hopes to have such an emergency, but nevertheless, the exercises are very important so that we’re prepared in case anything should happen.”

The “shooter,” who used a toy noise-making gun and a megaphone to make the shot louder, began the rampage at 11 a.m. and eventually committed suicide.

(Ryan Eidson portraying "the shooter)

Volunteers and mannequins were used as “victims,” of which nine were killed and the rest treated for gunshot wounds and broken bones.

(Volunteer victims Marilyn Richardson and Sara Little wait for law enforcement)

One group participating in Thursday’s event said the scenario was a little graphic, said Carl Richards, director of the Madison County EMA.

“We asked for feedback from everybody who played, and one comment from a group was that it was too real,” Richards said.

Comments from the evaluators had not been returned as of press time Thursday, but overall, Richards said the exercise went very well.

“It was a good learning experience for everyone,” he said. “When you challenge yourself, you always learn something.”

("Victim" Sara Little receives treatment)

Kelley McBride, public information officer for Madison County’s EMA/CSEPP, said the exercise helped each agency involved learn more about the other and work out lines of communications.

“We were able to identify areas where we could improve and all the groups involved now have more respect for one another,” she said.

Participants in Thursday’s exercise included: the EKU Police Department, EKU campus faculty, Richmond police and fire departments, Berea Police Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the EMA and Madison County Emergency Medical Services.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.