LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington’s Emergency Management division hosted an all-day training simulating an incident involving secondary chemical waste at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond.
The Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) training at Jacobson Park prepares fire, police and other emergency personnel in Lexington for a real-life chemical disaster. It’s all hands-on deck when it comes to these situations.
Battalion Chief Shane Poynter said as first responders, they’re always training for the worst but hope to never use most of the serious training they take part in. Lexington fire, police and other EMS officials simulated their response to a chemical waste incident at the Blue Grass Army Depot.
“On this job we prepare for a lot of things that we hope never happen, but we still have to prepare for them and be ready to handle those issues when they come up,” Poynter said.
Poynter said over 50 firefighters are training on medical, hazmat and incident command. Each has a role in making sure it’s a smooth response.
“They all have their roles to perform and it’s keeping everybody organized and performing those roles,” Poynter said.
Earlier this year, the last chemical weapon was destroyed at the depot, but it doesn’t make the training any less important.
“Even though that facility is winding down operations, we still need to keep going with this training, we need be operationally ready for chemical spills via rail traffic, interstate traffic, a lot of the manufacturing we have in the city, possible terrorists,” Poynter said.
If a chemical emergency were to happen at the depot, Lexington-Fayette County is what emergency management officials call a host county.
“Residents (in Madison County) would be evacuated to Fayette County from Madison and that’s why at Jacobson Park we have a decontamination center,” said Public Information Officer for Lexington Emergency Management, Emily Fay.
Fay said there has never been an incident at the depot, but all training is good training.
“At any point in time there can be an accident that occurs, I mean, God forbid, a plane crashed carrying hazardous chemicals,” Fay said.
Fay said Lexington residents can also be prepared on their own. Anyone interested in preparing their at-home kit should visit the Lexington Emergency Management website.
Officials from Federal Emergeny Management Agency and the Army were also on hand evaluating the training. City emergency teams will take that feedback and make any improvements to next year’s drill.
Lexington’s Division of Emergency Management coordinates response to any large-scale disaster or incident.