Upcoming Chemical Spill Exercise

A full-scale chemical release exercise is being held this Saturday, but don’t worry its just a test.

The Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency is teaming up with the Kellogg Company in Zanesville to test their abilities should a hazardous material spill occur. “Its an ammonia leak, they have an ammonia refrigeration system at their plant so the chemical will be released, we’re simulating injuries, people getting exposed and then the haz-mat team coming and doing rescue and decontamination of people who were exposed.” Says Public Information Officer Jennifer Hiestand.

The exercise will begin at 9am Saturday morning and last til noon at the Kellogg plant on Fairview Road. Residents in the immediate area will be notified later this week and the day of the drill to remind them of the exercise that will be taking place. “We have not had a full scale exercise like this in maybe 4 years, so it will look like something is happening but its just an exercise. But it gives our emergency responders a lot of experience, a lot of things to do better next time. It just spurs a lot of conversation on how we can work better together.”

Fairview Road in front of the Kellogg Company will be closed Saturday from 7am to 2pm. A public information center will be set up at the EMA office beginning at 10am if anyone has any questions.