Editorial: Practice run

It’s impossible to predict a disaster, but a group of dedicated local people are trying to make sure they can predict the community’s emergency responses.

When something bad happens in Lawrence, it’s good to know that key people will know what to do.

Last week, about 200 people pretended there had been a hazardous chemical spill at Kansas University. A lot of bad acting probably was involved on the part of the “victims,” but the drill had a very serious purpose. By going through the steps of responding to the mock disaster, all the people who would be involved in responding to a real emergency got to practice their jobs. They met people they would interact with in a real disaster and got some ideas about how they might make their responses more helpful and efficient.

This time they were focused on a chemical spill, but the skills they learn could be applied to any large-scale emergency in Lawrence or Douglas County. To be sure, an actual disaster likely would pose many unexpected complications, but having a group of people who have developed and practiced a strategy for dealing with those complications is an invaluable resource for the community.

From all reports, the people participating in last week’s drill took their roles seriously. They knew the situation wasn’t real, but they also knew the next situation might be and they needed to be prepared. Teri Smith, director of Douglas County Emergency Management, told a Journal-World reporter that her passion for her job “is to make sure our community is resilient. We want to make sure that we can respond, and most importantly, recover from anything that happens.” A prompt, effective response goes a long way to managing the crisis and facilitating that recovery.

Smith also said that pondering the possible emergencies that could threaten the county can keep her awake at night. We’re sorry about that, but drills like the one last week should help her and everyone else in Douglas County sleep a little better.