The name of the game was realism, and even the weather seemed intent on challenging Blount County first responders during their annual full-scale hazardous materials transportation exercise on Thursday evening.
Still, despite constant rain and winds police and fire departments from Alcoa, Maryville and Blount and paramedics from AMR met and exceeded their benchmark goals, according to Blount County Emergency Management Agency Director Lance Coleman.
Around 6 p.m. at the Alcoa Fire Department Training Facility, 725 Universal Street, after an opening word from APD Chief Roger Robinson and a brief prayer from the invited chaplain, personnel broke away to their staging locations. In just a few minutes, they would be responsible for safely excavating victims from a multiple vehicle accident involving a truck hauling an unidentified and actively leaking chemical.
Each year, the Maryville, Alcoa and Blount County Fire Departments rotate who creates and hosts the drill. Funding for this year comes from the Tennessee Emergency Management (TEMA) and United States Department of Transportation’s (DoT) 2024 federal Hazardous Materials Equipment Planning Grant.