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| By Jim McKeever |
| Walhonding Assistant Fire Chief, Brian Wilson, arrives on scene, and begins a size up of the situation. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| Walhonding Fire Chief, Mike Synder scopes out the leak at the tank from a safe distance. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| Lt. Bill Kobel, of the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office, surveys the tanks from the safe zone. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| The entry team prepares to run a hose line into the hot zone. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| The Coshocton County HazMat team arrives on scene. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| The entry team rescued the victim and is now performing a gross DeCon operation. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| Coshocton County EMS members transport the victim to their truck, and take him to the hospital. |
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| By Jim McKeever |
| Participants in the morning drills gather together to discuss the morning exercises. |
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COSHOCTON, Ohio – Coshocton County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), implemented a mock disaster, on Saturday, April 18, 2009, to give the local first responders practice in working together with multiple agencies on a large scale.
The exercise covered multiple locations, including the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and various problems. Two of the locations were near the Walhonding River in areas that are likely to be affected by flooding. The scenarios for these areas were that the river was rising, and the residences in the area needed to be evacuated to shelters. The Jackson Township Fire Department and the Walhonding Valley Fire District participated in these exercises. Also part of the exercise was two different shelters that were established by the American Red Cross for the evacuees.
The first scenario of the morning was an incident at a large farm on U.S. 36 just west of Coshocton. A bulk storage tank of anhydrous ammonia had developed a leak and had brought one victim down at the tank.
The Walhonding Valley Fire Chief Mike Synder and Asst. Chief Brian Wilson arrived on scene to find two Coshocton County Sheriff’s Deputies securing the scene. Lt. Bill Kobel informed Chief Synder that there was a victim at the bulk storage tank, and both men made their observations with binoculars from a safe distance.
Walhonding Valley Engine 701 is now on scene, and the crew has been ordered to prepare to make entry into the hot zone to rescue the victim. A hose line was stretched well into the hot zone with two hand lines attached to the end to use a protective fog spray for the rescuers and a gross De Con for the victim and the rescue team.
As the entry team completed it’s preparation for the rescue, the Coshocton County Hazardous Material Response Team rolled into position. Even while the team was en route, they were advised by the Incident Command about precautions the entry team needed to observe.
With all preparations complete, the entry team made its way down the lane to the victim with two members responsible for a fog pattern of water for their safety. The victim was recovered, and the team moved back to the “Y” in the line, and preformed a gross de con of each other and the victim. The team continued with the victim back up the lane until they were out of the hot zone, and went through another de con unit. After the victim came out of the de con unit, he was turned over to waiting members of the Coshocton County EMS to treat and transport him to the hospital. The Hazmat Team simulated the repair of the ruptured line on the bulk tank by putting a clamp on the line.
With the exercise now complete, all the gear was returned to their proper units and all involved went to the Walhonding Valley Fire District’s station. There a lunch prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary was served, and an analysis of the morning’s activities was led by Jim Horn of Coshocton Emergency Management System.
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