A Salem factory with a toxic chemical spill that sent a plumb of chemicals into the air over the west side of Salem that forced the closure of West Main Street and the evacuation of a number of west side businesses was the scenario for a drill for emergency service agencies Friday. The drill included use of the region's mobile command and communications vehicles. Salem Emergency Management Agency Coordinator Terry Mulvany says a drill is required every two years for the agency to keep its accreditation. "It gets everybody together number one. We had officials from the City of Salem and Marion County. We had the Regional Illinois EMA coordinator for Marion County here to assist me. It's just a time we work together, we call in state agencies to assist, the Mt. Vernon Fire Department haz mat team was here, the Robinson ITEC folks were hear with their trailer.We brought in people from outside Marion County area for this exercise to assist us," Mulvany said. Mulvany says it was an excellent drill and like all those before in his 32 years he learned something new. The agencies will sit down later to review how they did and look for ways to improve. Salem Fire Chief Roger Mann says they have a lot more resources as a result of the inflow of federal grants since 9-11. "We have a haz mat team in Centralia. We have a haz mat team in Mt. Vernon. They work together. They have both been credentialed with the state. They are credentialed to go anywhere in the state, or actually any where in the country where they might be needed," Mann explained."Through those grants people way above us in the federal government have decided to put this money down and filter it in different ways for people to pickup. We're really blessed." Mann says the mobile command vehicle can replace damaged facilities and the mobile communications vehicle, complete with its own radio tower, can replace damaged communications equipment and put all of those involved in handling an incident on a special frequency away from other traffic. He was impressed with the enthusiasm of the public safety agencies in attendance. Salem Police Sergeant Susan Miller, who also helped put together the drill, was also appreciative of all those who gave their time to prepare for an emergency situation. sFNDs
