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Exercise tests all phases of emergency preparedness at Newport

Responders react to imaginary scenario in which VX container leaks, catches fire

By Patricia L. Pastore/Tribune-Star

Vermillion and Parke County emergency responders demonstrated their expertise in dealing with a VX emergency during an exercise Wednesday that tested all phases of emergency preparedness.

Emergency responders reacted to a scenario in which a one-ton container of nerve agent VX leaked and caught fire. The results caused a deadly plume of the nerve agent to become airborne and carry by winds overhead in Vermillion County and toward Parke and Fountain counties.

Sirens and notification systems alerted citizens in the three counties to "shelter in place" by going to an inside room and using plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal themselves in that area to prevent VX contamination.

Emergency radios given residents earlier by the Emergency Preparedness Centers broadcast information concerning the accident and kept them updated.

Ramon Colombo, director of the Vermillion County Emergency Operations Center, kept the citizens updated via the special radios and with periodic television announcements.

He ordered the emergency responders to set up decontamination stations at North Vermillion High School, South Vermillion High School and at the West Central Community Hospital in Clinton. Emergency decontamination units arrived at the hospital just minutes after Colombo's order was received by the Clinton Township Fire Department.

These well-trained emergency service personnel demonstrated how quickly they work together.

The responders were activated at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday and by 10:50 a.m. they were ready to treat anyone caught outside when the VX plume passed overhead.

This group set up two temporary showers inside a tent outside the hospital so individuals being cleansed of the nerve agent did not have to stand in the open. No one exposed to VX is allowed to enter the hospital until they are decontaminated.

Doug Fauber, hospital assistant administrator and chief of the Nursing Office said this is emergency was treated like any other chemical disaster. The hospital emergency room was equipped with special radios because communication is vital.

"We have a special prepared location inside the ER to treat these victims," Fauber said. "We take the sickest first and notify Hamilton Center for those who need someone to talk to, notify other hospitals to see if they could accept patients if need be and then we wait for patients to arrive before determining who is seen first based on medical need."

Responders dressed in special suits with built-in foot coverings put on the suits quickly, but carefully. These suits surpass protective gear chemical permeation requirements. Protective head gear and boots complete the outfit.

The sun's bright glow caused temperatures to rise above 86 degrees and the responders in the suits perspired profusely.

Evaluators and observers stood in a circle around the responders as they worked.

This exercise is part of the congressionally mandated Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness program, which is designed to enhance the capability of the Newport Chemical Depot and surrounding communities to deal with an emergency involving VX. About 1,269 tons of the lethal Cold War chemical munition is stored at the depot. VX destruction is under way by an Army contractor and is expected to take about 30 months.

Bradley Thatcher, Indiana Department of Homeland Security director of homeland security training, was pleased with what he saw.

"I'm here as an observer," he said. "They are doing a pretty good job."

He said VX is only one reason emergency responders need to deal with decontamination. He said tankers going up and down the highways carry hazardous chemicals and train car tankers have hazardous materials and chemicals that are transported through these counties every day.

"The reason for these exercises is to give them a reason to practice and maintain proficiency,'' Thatcher said. "When the VX is destroyed, there will still be a need for emergency responders in the event of a truck wreck or train derailment."

The dedication of the responders is tremendous.

"Not many people will come out to don those suits on a hot day like today," Thatcher said. "It shows their dedication to public safety."

Chemical Depot employees don't have to be decontaminated when they arrive at the hospital because they go through that process at the depot before being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

"The scenario called for two workers at the plant to be injured in an accident," Colombo said. He said an additional 18 individuals in the county were caught outside when the plume passed over and had to be decontaminated to be sure they hadn't been contaminated with VX.

"You wouldn't know if droplets from the plume got on their clothes or not," he said. "You treat them as if they got it on them and then let the doctors at the hospital decide if they show symptoms of VX poisoning."

Vicky Francis, Colombo's assistant administrator, sent the message lifting the "shelter in place order" for the last Vermillion County township at 10:42 a.m., after Colombo signed it.

He said the full-scale emergency preparedness exercise offers an opportunity to identify the program's strong points as well as weak points. "We do it so we know where we need to improve before next year," he said.

Patricia Pastore can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or pat.pastore@tribstar.com.

Story created June 09, 2005 - 09:16:28 CDT.