Tools for EMA arrive

Thursday, August 31, 2006

The Putnam County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) recently received a grant to purchase hazardous materials equipment for county emergency service crews.

The new equipment, which included suits, masks, monitoring devices, and maps, were handed out to the departments Tuesday night.

The departments were also trained on how to use the monitoring devices.

Kim Hyten, director of the EMA, told the BannerGraphic Wednesday that the crews had to provide the EMA with implementation plans for NIMS training as well as a resolution from each of the crew's overseeing boards. They also had to provide a roster with each individual's hazmat levels and NIMS training level.

This will help when it comes to the government performing audits. Instead of hunting down the crews to ask them about the paperwork, Hyten can give the government the paperwork he has. This saves time for everyone involved.

During the training class Tuesday night, each crew, present at the meeting, received some type of gas monitoring device. These devices can be used during any hazardous material incident or can be used after a fire.

A couple other crews also received gamma and neutron rae monitors. These monitors can provide response to radiological threats.

Hyten also said that more grants were in the works. So in the future, emergency crews could be receiving more equipment to assist them during incidents.

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