For roughly an hour Thursday morning, there was constant communication and commotion on the local digital radio channel.
Heavy activity outside of Yutaka Technologies off of Alabama Highway 157 reflected what was going on, as police, fire and EMS lights could be seen flashing.
Thankfully, it was only a drill, as emergency personnel responded to staged calls from dispatch about a chemical explosion with multiple injuries at the plant.
"You never can be too prepared," Cullman County EMA Director Phyllis Little said. "It's always good when we can get out and practice together."
The county-wide emergency preparedness drill was hosted by Cullman Regional Medical Center and Cullman Emergency Services in conjunction with EMA, Cullman County Sheriff's Department, Cullman Police Department, Cullman Fire Rescue, Alabama State Troopers, and Cullman County Rapid Responders. Both EMS and EMA are required to participate in such drills at least twice a year.
Jerry Sellers, director of Cullman EMS, said overall, the drill went smoothly.
“Everything moved really well from the incident command center to DECON to those also participating at the hospital,” Sellers said. “That’s the purpose of having drills like this — so you can identify strengths and weaknesses.”
Once the drill began, responders rushed to help the injured — played by Wallace State Community College nursing students and UAB School of Respiratory Therapy students — by placing the more serious ones on gurneys and transporting them to the hospital, while the walking wounded, as they were identified, loaded a small bus to be transported.
Sellers was appreciative of the way all of the agencies worked together in the exercise.
“We’re very fortunate in Cullman County that all of these agencies can come together as one,” he said. “You don’t see that much in other areas. When you have that much involvement, it’s a good thing. The working relationship is just amazing.”
A debriefing was held at the conclusion of the drill to allow officials to make recommendations on how to improve in certain areas. Sellers said another debriefing would be held within the next few weeks for a more in-depth look at how things went during Thursday’s drill.
He added another drill of this type is in his agency’s plans for the near future.
“We plan to do more like this,” Sellers said. “The more we do things like this, the better we stay prepared.”
* Ashley Graves can be reached by phone at 734-2131, ext. 225, or by e-mail at agraves@cullmantimes.com
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Emergency personnel with Cullman EMS and Cullman Fire Rescue communicate with others during Thursday’s mock drill at Yutaka Technologies. ASHLEY GRAVES
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