Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management
Elaine Lindholm, Director
1305 Goff Street
Eads, CO 80136
719-438-2288

MEDIA RELEASE – For Immediate Release

July 11, 2006

For more information contact
Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management
Chris Sorensen, Public Information Officer
719-688-1976 (cell, not for public release) or chris@kiowaoem.com

KIOWA COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS PREPARING TO TEST THEIR SKILLS

    (EADS, COLORADO) Members of six Kiowa County emergency agencies will be conducting a full-scale training exercise Saturday, August 26, at the Kiowa County Fairgrounds in Eads, Colorado.
    The exercise will begin at 9:00 a.m. and be centered on a simulated passenger vehicle and semi truck crash which results in a simulated chemical spill. 
    Normal traffic flow in and around the Eads area, including Highways 287 and 96, should not be interrupted by the exercise. Emergency vehicles will be pre-staged on the fairgrounds in order to avoid impeding traffic or posing a safety concern.
    If a real emergency occurs during the exercise, the simulation can immediately be suspended or cancelled so that any needed personnel can quickly respond to the emergency.
    As the scenario unfolds, expert observer-controllers will monitor each agency’s personnel to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their actions and decisions. Full details of the scenario will not be revealed prior to the exercise so that participants can effectively test their skills and reasoning against unknown elements.
    The exercise is scheduled to conclude in three hours, depending upon how the scenario unfolds, and will be followed by a session that will allow responders to talk about the events and how issues were handled.
    Agencies currently planning to participate include the Kiowa County Emergency Medical Services, Sheriff’s Office, Division of Emergency Management (KCDEM), and Public Health; Eads Volunteer Fire Department and Weisbrod Memorial Hospital. Other area agencies may also be participating.
    KCDEM Director Elaine Lindholm states, “We expect to learn a great deal about the effectiveness of the training our agency members have had, and identify skills we can strengthen. We will all benefit from this exercise no matter how well we perform, and will be better prepared for a real emergency.” Lindholm also said that members of the community are welcome to watch the exercise, but must remain in designated observation areas to ensure their safety.
    Residents who would like to learn more about the Kiowa County Division of Emergency Management and the exercise may contact Director Elaine Lindholm at 719-438-2288.
    Funding for the exercise is provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via the Colorado Division of Emergency Management as part of an effort by DHS to improve the nation’s readiness for a variety of natural and man-made emergency situations. Similar exercises have been held in other Colorado counties, and will continue to be held in other communities.
    Kiowa County is part of the Southeast Colorado All-Hazards Region, which also includes Baca, Bent, Otero, Prowers and Crowley Counties.
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Released 2006-07-11, 08:43 – supersedes all previous versions