Lehigh County, PA, Tests HAZMAT Response Plans
Release Date: September 16, 2000
Release Number: R3-00-25
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency Region III, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Lehigh County emergency response organizations today held a hazardous material incident exercise.
The scenario for the incident involved the accidental release of a toxic chemical after a shooting at a plant. "Victims" wore identifying yellow armbands; responders dressed in the protective suits they would use in a real emergency.
Fire, law enforcement, medical staff and local industries participated in the activity designed to evaluate Lehigh County emergency response procedures. The evaluation used FEMA's Comprehensive Hazard Emergency Response - Capability Assessment Program (CHER-CAP).
Similar "incident response" exercises are routinely conducted. This was the first CHER-CAP exercise in Pennsylvania. It is part of FEMA's preparedness training program and helps coordination and communication among various responding organizations in any type of incident.
Participants include fire, police and HAZMAT responders from Bethlehem and Allentown and Lehigh County, as well as medical and other support personnel from Lehigh County, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, private business, and FEMA. Volunteer organizations included the American Red Cross and RACES, a ham-radio group that handled communications.
The exercise was held at Puritan Products, Inc., 2290 Avenue A, Bethlehem.
Last Modified: Monday, 17-Nov-2003 10:35:13