City of Pacific Management personnel participated in a Haz-Mat Table Top Exercise on Thursday morning based on a scenario of a tanker truck leaving State Route 167 due to a rapid traffic backup following a separate accident. The tanker contained acetyl chloride, a hazardous and colorless liquid.
Participants performed well and appropriately met the exercise objectives of proper resource coordination, command structure, situational awareness and public information, according to Mayor Richard Hildreth.
As part of the Pacific’s commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness, city officials have established a multi-year training and exercise plan. Twice each year, city officials will conduct or participate in a disaster-based exercise that is compliant with the Department of Homeland Security’s Exercise and Evaluation Program.
From Thursday’s exercise, Hildreth said participants will compile notes, comments and noted weaknesses for their position and department. The report will be available in approximately a month.
The City of Pacific’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, which includes the training and exercise plan, undergoes a continual updating and revision process. One of the key purposes of conducting disaster exercises is to find weaknesses and make corrections prior to the plans’ implementation in a real disaster, Hildreth said.
For additional information on the exercise or the training and exercise process, contact Hildreth at Pacificmayor@aol.com.