8/23/98

Bombings add urgency to preparedness

By Genna McLaughlin

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Scott Graham listened closely as federal officials warned the nation of possible terrorist retaliation after the bombings in Afghanistan and Sudan.

Graham, a member of Mutual Aid in Greensburg, and local emergency personnel like him will be on the front lines if a chemical, biological or nuclear weapon hits American soil.

"The federal government has put programs together to assist in areas of mass destruction, but they're not designed to take effect until six hours after the incident," said Graham.

That leaves hours for local firefighters, emergency medical technicians, hospital personnel, police and ordinary citizens to handle casualties and wreckage left by an attack. In the case of a biological or chemical attack, training could mean the difference between hundreds and thousands of lives lost.

In light of that, federal programs have done little to train local officials. Programs like the Domestic Preparedness Program, started in 1996, target highly populated areas such as cities in California and New York and Pittsburgh's Allegheny County, leaving smaller counties like Westmoreland, Indiana and Fayette untouched. But officials in those counties aren't waiting for their turn at federal training programs. They're preparing their own.

"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," said Graham, who is trained in disaster procedures from the Department of Defense.

For six months, Graham has been creating a team of key players in Westmoreland County to design and practice an emergency action plan.

Representatives from fire departments, county hospitals, Westmoreland County hazardous materials team and law enforcement agencies have met three times to gather data on chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and what equipment and training are needed.

Training will begin soon, according to Graham, and will include firefighters and EMS personnel, who are likely to be the first on a disaster scene, and hospital personnel who would take care of casualties.

Warnings like the one about terrorist retaliation that came Thursday reinforce the urgency of such training, said Graham. "We're rushing but also making sure we cover all the bases.

"The next step will be to invite outside individuals (to train)," he said.

In an effort to bring more personnel up to date quickly, counties have been sharing programs.

Uniontown police department will host a training program at the end of September with lectures from federal and state agencies on domestic terrorism. Chief Kyle Sneddon said federal, state or local law enforcement personnel are invited.

And state programs like the Pennsylvania Emergency Management annual conference in Lancaster have trained officials from Westmoreland, Fayette and Indiana counties. This year's conference, Sept. 19-22, will focus entirely on weapons of mass destruction.

More costly and less available is equipment that would be crucial in the event of an attack.

Encapsulated suits to protect against chemical or biological agents cost $1,000 a piece and air masks up to $2,500, according to Greensburg Fire Chief Ed Hutchinson.

The Greensburg fire department has 90 air masks and 12 encapsulated suits.

"It's not enough," said Hutchinson, who said federal and state money did not help to purchase the equipment.

Jim Sadler, president of the Indiana County Fire Association, said Indiana fire departments have few masks and suits and would rely heavily on Hazmat teams that have training and equipment.

But things like that don't appease Roy Shipley, director of Fayette County Emergency Management. He said all 30 Hazmat members in the county have necessary equipment but "the first on scene would be your local responders: local fire, EMS and police."

Most organizations are trying to increase equipment supplies but without federal assistance it may take a long time.

"We're trying to be up front and get the county up to speed fast," said Hutchinson. "Are we prepared, no. Are we trying to get prepared, yes."