SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The voice over the radio calls "Exercise exercise exercise, hazardous material spill. " Emergency response teams hastily gathered their equipment before heading to the scene.
Members of the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management Hazardous Material team, 4th CES fire department and the 4th Inspector General office worked with Wayne County Emergency service agencies during a simulated HAZMAT spill, Dec. 9, 2019, in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The exercise provided the opportunity for agencies to test their established mutual aid agreements.
"By conducting a big exercise where all of the participating agencies come out, we can see if our mutual aid agreement works,” said TSgt Maria Skodacek, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management NCO in charge of training and logistics.
A parking lot at Cherry Hospital provided the location for the simulated HAZMAT spill. Response agencies, both military and civilian, worked side by side during the exercise’s various procedures including radio calls, assessing the situation, and decontaminating participants and responders.
"The exercise emphasized the importance of joint partnership," said Master Sgt. Larry Mozell, 4th Fighter Wing Inspector General. "We witnessed the strategic fusion between military and local responders to immediately reduce the footprint of a chemical and environmental hazard."
During the exercise’s conclusion, participants met and discussed their views.
“It was a success,” stated Skodacek. “Everything went smoothly and we finished ahead of schedule.”
According to Skodacek, the Emergency Management team is looking forward to participating in more joint exercises in the future.