PEMA, State Agencies, to Conduct Radiological and Hazardous Materials Responder Training in Lancaster

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — To make sure the people who first respond to radiological and hazardous materials incidents are better prepared, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is conducting a training event April 21-22 at the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center in Manheim.

This training will include mock scenarios, such as reacting to reports of lost radioactive devices/materials, dirty bombs and a large radiation release.

“This training is a unique opportunity to have more than 80 specialized hazardous materials response team members and radiological officers practice their skills in a team setting,” said PEMA Deputy Director Richard Flinn. “Should an accident ever occur with radioactive or hazardous materials, it is important that these experts from across the commonwealth effectively communicate and work as a team.”

The two-day exercise will include local, state, and federal radiological response capability planning and response updates, as well as training sessions on the use and capabilities of the new equipment, proficiency survey and detection equipment stations, and team responses to scenarios that will highlight the use of the incident command system as it applies to responding to radiological events or incidents.

The training will be offered by PEMA in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Radiation Protection, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Department of Health, Office of the State Fire Commissioner and the Salvation Army. Support from the following federal and local entities is also making the training possible:

    – Centers for Disease Control    – U.S. Department of Energy’s Preparedness Program and Outreach Program    – Environmental Protection Agency Region 3    – Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Management Institute    – Nuclear Regulatory Commission    – Occupational Safety and Health Administration    – Beaver County Hazardous Materials Team    – Lancaster County Hazardous Materials Team    – City of Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments   

Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation to provide this specialized all-hazards radiological response field training.

For more information about radiological and hazardous materials preparedness, as well as upcoming training events, visit http://www.pema.state.pa.us/.

   CONTACT:  Maria A. Finn (PEMA)             (717) 651-2009              Ron Ruman             (717) 787-1323  

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

CONTACT: Maria A. Finn, PEMA, +1-717-651-2009; or Ron Ruman, DEP,+1-717-787-1323

Web site: http://www.pema.state.pa.us/