First responders to practice hazardous materials procedures during exercise at Lawrence airport

photo by: Journal-World File Photo

This file photo from March 2009 shows the Lawrence Municipal Airport from the southeast looking northwest.

A number of agencies will participate in an emergency exercise Thursday morning at Lawrence Municipal Airport.

The exercise, scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to noon, will simulate a transportation-related release of hazardous materials at the airport in North Lawrence, according to a press release from Bob Newton, of Douglas County Emergency Management. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical personnel will practice hazardous materials management and how to handle patients. The Lawrence hospital will activate its incident command center to practice a surge in patients and its patient-decontamination procedures.

The Lawrence Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Emergency Communications, Douglas County Emergency Management, Lawrence Municipal Airport, Hetrick Air Services and Lawrence Municipal Services and Operations will also participate in the exercise.

The exercise is one of two that a U.S. Department of Transportation grant will fund. Local first-responder agencies will also conduct a mass-casualty exercise on Oct. 9.

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