Practicing preparedness
TAKING NOTES: John Simpson, a Technological Hazards Program Specialist with the Department of Homeland Security, watches a "Shelter In Place" drill at Montezuma Elementary School in Vermillion county Wednesday morning. (Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis) |
Elementary nearly flawless during annual drill
By Patricia L. Pastore/Tribune-Star
April 22, 2004
Pupils carefully and methodically moved to the west wing of the Montezuma Elementary School while teachers and staff shut off air flow and sealed windows, doors and vents with plastic and tape.
In the unlikely event of a nerve agent VX accident at the Newport Chemical Depot, teachers and students demonstrated Wednesday they know what to do and how to do it quickly.
Montezuma Elementary sits about six miles southeast of the Newport site that houses the chemical weapon.
During an annual Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program exercise, each step of the school's occupants' ability to shelter in place was measured by an expert in emergency preparedness.
Principal Denny Overberg observed his staff. They had obviously practiced the plan many times before and moved the children quickly, without incident, to the enhanced sheltering area in the west wing.
Evaluator John D. Simpson, FEMA Technological Hazardous Program specialist of the National Preparedness Division, observed the entire exercise. His trained eyes darted from one spot to another. He moved throughout the building watching the entire exercise unfold.
Simpson saw teachers Judy Lorezon, Julie Hire and Joanie Lunsford cover a large window with pre-cut plastic sheeting and then securely tape it in place to prevent outside air from coming into the facility. He checked the plastic covering to make sure there were no gaps between the plastic, the tape and walls.
Teachers carrying checklists walked beside students in hallways counting every head while moving the children to the west wing.
About 240 students participated and each child was accounted for during the move.
Students and staff nearly flawlessly performed the "Sheltering In Place" operating procedure mapped out for this specific school.
It is apparent to Simpson the school is prepared to deal with a VX disaster.
"I didn't see anything that troubled me," Simpson said after the exercise. "The relocation of students was organized and efficient. The staff is well-trained and demonstrated an excellent sense of urgency. I saw special considerations made for handicapped students. They did a fine job today. I think they are more than sufficiently prepared for any unlikely accident at the Newport Chemical Depot."
The exercise was completed in about 15 minutes. During an actual emergency, the children and their teachers would remain in the secured west wing until the Army made a recommendation to county officials.
"This might be a couple of hours or more," Simpson said. "Once a VX plume (VX vapor sent into the air by an explosion or an aircraft crashing into the VX stockpile at the chemical depot) leaves the area, the air outside becomes better than the air inside and the Army will make a recommendation to county officials. It's the county's call."
He said county officials then decide when and how those inside the school will be evacuated.
"School buses will be called to pick up the kids and the teachers," said Faye Coomer, assistant director of Parke County Emergency Operations. "They'll be taken to Northview High School in Brazil."
Sheltering in place is the first protective action taken to care for those inside the school..
"After learning wind direction and which direction the plume is going, the next step will be decided," Coomer said.
Montezuma was the first school in Parke County to draw up a plan for sheltering in place.
"We have given the other schools this plan to go by," Coomer said. "They, the staff and students, have worked hard and done a terrific job of being prepared for such an emergency."
Patricia Pastore can be reached at (812) 213-4271 or pat.pastore@tribstar.com