CSEPP drill prepares community for disaster
By Ronica Brandenburg/Register News Writer

Clark-Moores Middle School students filled the hallways in droves and were eventually lined around the hallways of the school sitting on the ground and preparing for the worst.

The school was one of nine in Madison County that participated in the annual Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) conducted Wednesday at Clark-Moores, Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center and the Madison County Emergency Operations Center.

“The object of the exercise is to provide a realistic scenario that requires action on the part of the emergency responders and civic agencies,” said Dick Sloan, public relations officer for Blue Grass Chemical Activity. “This year's exercise allowed responders from all agencies to ensure that their emergency plans and actions both work as designed and fit with the emergency plans of other agencies.”

Students were told to report to their shelter-in-place areas. Sheltering in place is a safety precaution that is meant to be only temporarily. It requires a person to stay inside a sealed room for no more than a few hours until the air outside is safe to breathe again.

A shelter-in-place kit contains a large bucket, plastic sheeting to cover doors, windows and vents, duct tape, scissors, a radio with extra batteries, bottled water (at least one gallon per person) toilet tissue and a large plastic bucket.

Students did not display shelter-in-place material, but instead, lined the hallways much like what would be done in case of a tornado drill.

Clark-Moores Principal Franklin Thomas is confident with the shelter-in-place process.

“I feel very protected by the system,” he said. “It went very smooth today. We were completely done with (getting students in the designated area) within three or four minutes with no glitches. I have been told by some that in case there was an emergency, we're in the safest place in Madison County.”

Students participate in the drill three times a year, but sixth-grade student Tara Bray does not feel as confident with the system as Thomas.

“I don't think we could get out of here in time and I just don't feel safe,” she said. “They just tell us to go out here and sit, but I don't think that's enough.”

Student Jacquiri Murray agrees that more could be done to educate the students about what they're really doing and why.

“They need to teach more stuff so that if there is a disaster, then we'll be ready for it,” he said.

Following the shelter-in-place drill at Clark-Moores, the scene moved to Pattie A. Clay, where mock decontaminations were being done.

Several local agencies participated in the event, including the Blue Grass Army Depot, Blue Grass Chemical Activity, Commonwealth of Kentucky Emergency Management Agency, Madison County Emergency Management Agency, various police and fire units, several Madison County schools and Berea Hospital.

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