Laurie Parker Reports 07/26/04

Madison County sits more than a hundred miles from the Anniston Army Depot. Residents here may face no risk of exposure to the deadly chemicals stored there.

However, if a leak happens, people here will know about it.

Madison County is one of three counties that will play host to thousands of people near Anniston if something ever goes wrong.

Jared Cassidy is an Emergency Management officer. He says there must be a plan, just in case.

"It's probably more stupid not to be prepared," Cassidy says. "There is always a possibility of something going wrong, but it's one of those very remote possibilities. We've just got to be prepared in case the worst does happen," he adds.

In the worst-case scenario, 51,000 people would be forced to evacuate their homes and find temporary refuge in Madison County. Highway 431 is the main escape route.

Jennifer Guthrie knows the road. She drives it every day and doesn't like the sound of that. She says she can only imagine what it would look like.

"Probably like Talladega - bumper to bumper. I mean just non-stop," Guthrie says.

Once people reach Madison County, there's a bigger problem. Where do you put them?

Red Cross shelters, hotels, and relatives would have to open their doors. People don't have to spend the night in Madison County, but they do have to register here -- so their information is on record and they're easier to locate.

It's a plan that's all thought out -- mapped in an emergency response manual.

"You have to have something to start with to help people and protect them," Jared Cassidy says.

But it's never actually been put to the test. Cassidy says he's confident it will stay that way.