Emergency Drill Is a Success

The threat of a truck spewing chlorine vapor and a student hostage situation was planned as part of a hosted by today.  Summit Police cruisers blocked off roads surrounding the school from noon until about 3p.m. for the exercise. According to school officials about 160 faculty and 40 students participated in the event.

Several agencies throughout Union County and Summit came together in what could be called a warm-up in the event of both a chemical disaster and shooting rampage. "The drill ran according to schedule and the school learned alot," said James Palmieri, Kent Place School's director of strategic initiatives. Officials from the Summit public school system also were on hand to observe the procedures of local emergency agencies.

Officers Elizabeth Rice, Sgt. Rick Proctor and Paul Santos were armed to the teeth as they stood near the Norwood Avenue entrance to the school, under a bright yellow tent. Small printed signs read: "No weapons or ammunition past this point." The police walkie talkies squealed as officers awaited orders in their "active shooter" drill.

This is the first time in nearly two decades that an exercise of this magnitude has been hosted in Summit, according to Fire Department Battalion Chief Eric Evers, who helped coordinate the drill along with City Administrator Chris Cotter and Police Lt. John Dougherty. 

The drill involved a truck, which was parked on campus, spewing a harmless liquid vapor that was pretend chlorine for purposes of the exercise. Emergency medical workers arrived on the scene, as well as a MERC hazardous materials unit, said Evers. 

It took about a year of planning to coordinate the drill, according the Evers. "The goal for the exercise is to have all the city agencies communicate in one arena," he said.

Actors portrayed victims affected by the "chlorine" and one actor portrayed the truck driver and a crazed shooter who ran into a classroom and took actors portraying students hostage. A Union County hostage negotiator squad was brought in to work the exercise. 

"Overall the drill was a success and numerous agencies responded," said Kent Place School's Palmieri.