Safety forces prepare for area disaster drill

The disaster will be imaginary, but officials will act as if it's the real thing.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County safety forces are expecting an explosion and chemical spill on an interstate highway Thursday evening, followed by an attack on a local airport.
They won't be real, though. They will be simulated as part of the county's annual emergency preparedness training, said Walter Duzzny, director of the county emergency management agency.
He said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Ohio Emergency Response Commission requires the tests each year. Some 200 personnel from more than 15 local agencies will participate in the drill and then be evaluated on their response.
"It's good for us because it gives us a chance to step back and look at any shortfalls we might encounter in the way we respond to a situation," Duzzny said.
The scenario will be imaginary, but participants will go through the motions as if they are responding to an actual emergency, Duzzny said.
Details
He said the exercise, six months in the planning, will begin with a simulated explosion and major chemical release at an undisclosed location on an interstate highway at about 6 p.m.
The Beaver Township fire and police departments will be activated to respond, with support from surrounding departments as the situation worsens.
Some on-site participants will be transported to area hospitals for medical treatment, allowing local staffs to practice their performance in the event of an actual emergency. Hospitals will be evaluated on their ability to handle mass-casualty situations.
Shortly after the imaginary chemical spill, the exercise will expand to include the Elser Metro Airport on Elser Road, Beaver Township. That situation will involve a fictional militia group intent on harming residents and destroying critical facilities in the county, Duzzny said.
"This is a major event for our county," Duzzny said. "It will be a valuable tool not only for these types of situations, but for all types of disasters."
bjackson@vindy.com