Depot to conduct quarterly drill
By Ronica Brandenburg/Register News Writer

The Madison County Emergency Operations Center received a frantic call earlier this morning from Blue Grass Army Depot officials notifying them of a chemical release from a weapon storage igloo. EOC employees immediately prepared themselves for an emergency they knew was going to happen.

It was only a test.

The phone call made to the EOC was the beginning of the Chemical Accident Incident Response Assistance (CAIRA) exercise.

The Bluegrass Chemical Activity Emergency Operation Center (BGCA EOC) performs a quarterly CAIRA exercise in conjunction with the Madison County EOC and the depot. The Madison County EOC will participate by receiving messages and reacting in the capacity that they would in a real event.

"Once we get that call, we'll pretend that it's actually happening," said Michael Bryant, director of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) "We see what areas are in danger, simulate the siren and the depot will give us a recommendation as to what to do. They may recommend that you shelter in place or evacuate."

Madison County residents living near the depot may have noticed a familiar tune filling the air when depot officials sounded the Westminster Chimes as a part of the quarterly emergency response exercise.

There are three warning tones. The severe weather tone is a steady wail lasting 45 seconds, and the chemical event tone is an alternating steady wail lasting 15 seconds. When the sirens are sounded, residents hear a loud, continuos tone followed by a voice message indicating what action should be taken. The Westminster Chimes are used only in the case of a test.

In an emergency in Madison County, including an incident involving the chemical stockpile at the depot, the citizens would be notified by the emergency warning system. Along with the sirens and tone alert radios (in-home warning systems), the agency can override local radio and television stations to get information out to the public.

"It's essential that people prepare for emergencies and practice their plans, and that's what we do," said Carl Richards, director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA). "An actual emergency is not the appropriate time to find out your plan doesn't work or is unrealistic."

Kentucky Emergency Management, Estill, Powell, Garrad, Jackson, Rockcastle and Clark county EOCs also participate by receiving the message activity.

The Madison County EOC conducts bi-monthly siren tests and tone alert radio checks the first Saturday and the third Wednesday of each month; however, they are not in conjunction with the CAIRA quarterly exercise.

CSEPP, which is part of the Madison County EMA, encourages residents to find out in which emergency zone they live. During any type of emergency, residents will be informed on how to respond according to their zone.

For additional information on emergency preparedness, call the Emergency Operations Center at 624-4787, Monday through Friday during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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