Hazardous materials training planned

Staff Report

The Clovis/Curry County Local Emergency Planning Committee heard plans Wednesday for hazardous material training.

Larry Nelson, director of the emergency management program at Eastern New Mexico University and member of the Melrose Volunteer Fire Department, gave a presentation on an upcoming hazardous materials exercise involving local emergency fire and police departments, BNSF Railway, and Plains Regional Medical Center.

Nelson said the all day event would be held Sept. 9 at two venues, and the organizers were looking for 20 volunteers to act as victims in the mock scenario.

The event may also include the Police Explorer youth group and the Civil Air Patrol.

Clovis Emergency Management Director Dan Heerding said the training fulfills an annual requirement for New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management grant money.

Sgt. Bryan Dudley of Cannon Air Force Base said an information gathering session that would log what hazardous materials are traveling through Curry County on U.S. 60/84 was canceled in May due to weather, but they would continue planning for the task.

Members also briefly discussed upcoming classes including an LEPC Workshop today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Clovis Community College, a “Coordinating Response to Food Emergencies” class from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 28-29 at the Youth Recreation Building, and an state Department of Health point of dispensing (POD) class from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 1 at the Clovis-Carver Public Library.