Wabaunsee County Signal – November 28, 2013
Submitted by Newz Group Clipping Service – December 4, 2013
Last Wednesday Wabaunsee County personnel responsible for dealing with emergencies, both natural and man-made, gathered around a large table covered with playhouses, cars and a train set. They dealt with a disaster.
This exercise, sponsored by the Wabaunsee County Emergency Management Director Amy Terrapin and Nancy Lamb from the Kansas Department of Emergency Management, may have looked like grown men and women playing with models, but there was a more meaningful motive behind it.
Nancy Lamb served as the facilitator for the exercise. Her official title is Northeast Homeland Security Regional Coordinator for the Kansas Department of Emergency Management. While she led the exercise Terrapin monitored and recorded results of the training operation.
Several tables were pushed together and covered with a group of small buildings and homes, complete with streets and a railroad track. The group of buildings was a simulation for the town of Alma. Lamb told those participating in the exercise to “imagine” that the train east of Alma struck a vehicle and derailed. The derailment resulted in trapped people, both in the vehicle and the train, as well as three derailed railroad cars that were carrying hazardous materials.
As each department spoke about what action they would take next, Lamb continued to throw additional scenarios into the mix that made it more difficult to deal with the disaster.
As a result of the scenario several agencies and departments were included in the exercise. At the conclusion of the exercise participants were given an opportunity to talk about what could have been done differently, and what their department strengths and weaknesses are.
Lamb took notes on objectives each department wished to accomplish and logged either six month or twelve month deadlines for those goals to be met.
In addition to Lamb and Terrapin, other departments and individuals participating in the exercise included: Coffee County Health Department, East Central Kansas Public Health Coalition member Carl Lee, USD #329 Superintendent Jim Kenworthy, Wabaunsee County Zoning Administrator David Stuewe, Wabaunsee County Clerk/EMT Jennifer Savage, American Medical Response Administrative Assistant Mary Glover, Wabaunsee County Health Department Administrator Janet Wertzberger, Wabaunsee County Extension Agent Kara Mayer, Wabaunsee County Fire District #3 Fire Chief Robert Carrier, Jr., Kansas Department of Health and Environment Representative Ron Starbuck, Wabaunsee County Commissioner Ervan Stuewe, Wabaunsee County Fire District #8 Representatives Joe Carpenter and Jim Mueller, Wabaunsee County Sheriff Doug Howser, Wabaunsee County Undersheriff Darrin Stewart, Wabaunsee County Health Department Nurse Jackie Wilt, AMR Paramedic Joel Fager, Wabaunsee Fire District #7 Fire Chief Mat Flach and City of Alma Supervisor Jon Bolinder.
Lamb told those attending that some of the objectives of the exercise include evaluating accountability of the various departments, evaluating responders communication plans, evaluating the ability to set up a proper triage, and establishing public safety and security.
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