Dan Neeley, San Juan County public relations manager said about 150 first responders were involved. Agencies working together in the training exercise included Farmington Fire department and its hazmat team; Farmington Police Department and its bomb and SWAT teams; San Juan Regional Medical Center EMS, among other, including the Red Cross. By Donna K. Hewett This story is sponsored by Traegers Bar and Ute Mountain Casino Hotel
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San Juan County Office of Emergency Management recently conducted a full scale drill in Farmington, with a heavy presence of first responders. You’re watching the Local News Network, brought to you by Traegers, and Ute Mountain Casino Hotel. I’m Wendy Graham Settle. The drill tests and trains first responders for a large scale emergency. Devon Neely, San Juan County Public relations manager, said about 150 first responders were involved.
Today what we’re standing in front of is a simulated hostage situation that will later turn into a bomb scenario that will exercise both the SWAT team and the bomb squad for Farmington Police over in Bloomfield this morning. The San Juan County Fire and Rescue is working with Farmington Fire’s hazmat team on a hazmat situation over on that end of the county.
Agencies working together in the training exercise included the Farmington Fire Department and its hazmat team, Farmington Police Department and its bomb and SWAT squads, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, and San Juan Regional Medical Center, among others. The drill was organized in a public private partnership with Enterprise Products. The Red Cross was on hand to support the exercise. How important is it?
You know, this is so important to exercise something on a larger scale than we would usually handle. You know, a car crash, a house fire is one thing. But a hazard in a large scale is completely different when you’re involving multiple agencies, when you’re involving hundreds of people in some cases. This gives special teams a chance to practice their skills as well.
The drills are intended to prepare responders for all hazards. Each scenario strives to prepare law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel. Police Officer Hyatt quietly worked a hostage situation.
So this is a simulation to help train law enforcement county wide on what we would do to react in situations like this.
Social media helps to raise awareness of such events, so there’s no major public disruption. Thanks for watching this edition of The Local News Network. I’m Wendy Graham Settle.
