By Sherri Blevins
FORT PAYNE – Have you ever considered all the planning and preparation needed by first responders to protect the community from deadly situations? I haven’t, but I have always trusted they would be prepared for whatever may come. Recently, I had the privilege to watch an emergency response simulation exercise as it happened. Just like a football team must work as one to achieve a victory, different branches of emergency responders must work together to protect the public in times of disaster.
On August 31, the DeKalb County Homeland Security Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA) orchestrated a simulated hazardous chemical spill accident at Joe’s Truck Stop. The simulation allowed the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Payne Police Department, the Fort Payne Fire Department, and Fort Payne City Officials to assess their readiness for a real hazardous spill.
The first responders gathered at the VFW Fairground for a briefing on the accident. Before the meeting, the only group to know what the simulation involved was the DCHSEMA. The other departments were left in the dark to see how they handled unknown situations.
DCHSEMA Officer Chris Burt explained the steps involved in the exercise and what the result would be if the response team didn’t react correctly. The simulation involved a stolen unmarked cylinder of deadly chlorine. A one-ton truck carried the stolen chlorine cylinder down the mountain on Hwy 35 to Joe’s Truck Stop. At the same time, an 18-wheeler tanker was traveling toward Joe’s Truck Stop when the two collided. The tanker overturned, and the cylinder from the other truck rolled off, creating a quarter-inch crack and allowing white smoke to saturate the area. Burt explained that if first responders rushed to the scene before determining the contents of the cylinder, they would be dead within minutes because the smoke coming out of the cylinder shuts down the respiratory system, causing instant death. Burt said that if the spill had been real, people coming into contact with the smoke within a quarter mile would die.
Burt explained many pieces of technology the different departments use to help them evaluate the situation. I was surprised to learn that the sheriff, police, fire, and DCHSEMA all use drones to carry out part of their work. During the exercise, the drones allowed officials to evaluate the situation without getting too close for comfort.
Fort Payne Police Chief David Davis, Fort Payne Fire Chief Stacy Smith, and Mayor Brian Baine led the command post where the important decisions were made. DCHSEMA’s role was to provide needed resources when requested by the leaders.
DCHSEMA Deputy Director Michael Posey stated that this type of spill would require residents in certain areas around the spill to be evacuated and those too close to the spill to remain indoors in the middle of the house, with all doors and windows closed and sealed as much as possible. Chief Davis, Chief Smith, and Mayor Baine read a press statement to me advising the public of the situation and the actions they wished to be followed.
I asked Deputy Posey what the public should do to prepare for potential disasters. Posey said, “The biggest thing the public needs to do is ensure they are signed up to our public notification system, Alert DeKalb. (Visit the DCHSEMA website to sign up if you haven’t already.) Once they receive a message, they need to follow its directions expressly as given. They should follow the evacuation route identified in the message if it is an evacuation order. If they are advised to shelter in place, they should follow those directions specifically because that message will provide life-safety instructions.”
Posey offered one more piece of advice, “The public should remain aware of their surroundings. If they see something that looks dangerous, leave if you can get away. Don’t put yourself in danger. Resist the urge to “go look” because it could be deadly.”