Preble County emergency planners have scheduled an EPA-mandated hazardous materials preparedness drill for the morning of Saturday, Oct. 17, according to the county's Local Emergency Planning Committee, which is organizing the event with DuPont and Kettering Health Preble.
Two sites will host the exercise: the DuPont facility on South Electric Street in West Alexandria and Kettering Health Preble on Washington-Jackson Road in Eaton.
Organizers describe the drill as a way to test how well first responders, hospitals, emergency support organizations and community partners coordinate when a hazardous materials release occurs. Decision-making, communication and coordination are the stated focus areas, with the goal of strengthening emergency operations.
Residents near both locations should expect emergency vehicles in the surrounding areas from roughly 8 a.m. until noon. The committee says the activity is a training exercise and does not represent an actual emergency.
Agencies listed as participants include DuPont, Kettering Health, the Village of West Alexandria, West Alexandria Police Department, West Alexandria Fire & EMS, the Preble County Sheriff's Office, Eaton Fire & EMS, Preble County Emergency Management Agency, Lewisburg Fire & EMS and the Preble County Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Questions can be directed to Joshua Poeppelman of DuPont at 937-300-2049, Claire Myree of Kettering Health Preble at 937-762-1077, or Suzy Cottingim of Preble County EMA/LEPC at 937-456-5647.