Colleton County Fire-Rescue and the Emergency Management Division, participated in the annual Statewide Exercise through SCEMD. This type of drill is conducted annually and involves many agencies locally and throughout the State. It runs all week including Saturday and tests many aspects of emergency response and many support agencies. This year the State is exercising on a flooding event.
Tuesday 15-March - Colleton County's portion involves a mock train derailment into the Edisto River which required HazMat mitigation including fuel & oil leaks, air monitoring, mock evacuations. simulated rescue of victims from the Edisto River, boat use, divers and decontamination of victims and personnel. The scenario took place along the Edisto River in Jacksonboro, with Fire-Rescue setting up at West Bank Landing, then traveling by boat to the CSX Trestle near US Hwy. 17. Approximately 45 responders participated, including personnel from SCEMD, Fire-Rescue, Hepaco and CSX Railroad. Divers, Firefighter-Paramedics and HazMat Techs participated. Three Fire Rescue boats were used to rescue simulated victims from the River. Hepaco provided a chlorine prop for HazMat Techs to practice sealing the train car leak. Responders were divided into three groups, with each group rotating through the three scenarios, River Rescue, HazMat leak mitigation and software/reference ID for the leaking materials.
Thursday 17-March - The County EOC will be open and participating with the State EOC in the continuing recovery efforts from the Statewide Flooding event. Items include local fuel distribution, power outages and assistance to the public.
Friday 18-March - Fire-Rescue will not be participating in any activities Friday, however there are exercises being held throughout the State.
Fire-Rescue is sending personnel to Columbia Tuesday and Wednesday to support the Statewide Communications exercises.
Saturday 19-March - The Statewide Communications failure exercise will be held Saturday. It simulates the failure of normal communications and tests backup systems, such as VHF/UHF, satellite communications and HAM radios to send voice and data to various other counties and the State.
The various components of the exercise test and evaluate different agencies, including Fire-Rescue on their ability to respond, but to continue operations when normal avenues are disabled or not available.
