The New Haven Area Special Hazards Team will conduct a field exercise for the regions’ fire, rescue, EMS and hazardous materials technicians on Friday and Saturday, September 24 and 25 in Derby.
This tabletop and functional exercise will focus on the deployment capabilities and effective use of resources maintained by the regional hazardous materials response unit during a simulated hazardous materials release.
This multi-jurisdictional team is composed of fire, law enforcement and private industry personnel specially trained to plan for, respond to and mitigate incidents involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) agents.
The unit is made up of five core teams, supplemented by additional resources and covers the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) Region 2; a thirty community area. The Derby Fire Department Storms Engine Company serves as the Valley Division within the regional hazmat team.
Participating agencies will include Derby Fire, Police and Emergency Management as well as mutual aid resource from contiguous jurisdictions.
This exercise will allow agency representatives to work together in a unified command structure in order to safely, effectively and efficiently control a dangerous situation that may pose an unreasonable threat to life, the environment and property.
Funding for this regional exercise has been obtained through the U.S. Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning Grant Program and the State Emergency Response Commission.
The Connecticut Fire Academy will facilitate this two-day event. During this exercise, representatives from each agency will be assigned roles and responsibilities common to mitigating hazmat/WMD incidents; much of the equipment to be deployed has been provided to first responders by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security or purchased using funds made available through State Homeland Security Grants.
