Two Hazmat Emergency Crews Prepare for Chemical Disasters

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Two hazmat emergency crews are working together to make sure they are prepared for a chemical disaster.

The North Dakota National Guard Civil Support team and Grand Forks Regional

Hazmat were in full role play as they walked through what a chemical, nuclear, or explosive response would look like.

It is polished training for the Civil Support Team, and a learning experience for Regional Hazmat.
 
“This type of exercise we are becoming a young department we’re getting 12-20 new people, and we are finding out what we can and can’t do,” says Bruce Weymier of Grand Forks Regional Hazmat.
 
The exercise is an effort to both practice and test how the two groups will work together when responding to a hazardous material event.

Aaron Morgaard of the National Guard also explained it is a good way to assess strengths and weaknesses.
 
“I think it’s great you get to see the fire departments capabilities. Fire department gets to see our capabilities. Fire department gets to see our capabilities. I think it’s nice to coordinate with regional hazmat teams,” says Morgaard.
 
The Civil Support Team works with four regional hazmat teams across the state.
 
It coordinates and performs simulation exercises with Grand Forks, Bismarck, Minot, and Fargo hazmat teams.

Civil Support members get the experience in how they can help assist smaller towns that may lack the proper resources to respond to hazmat emergencies.
 
“Better every time we do it I learn something new pretty much every time. The scenarios are never the same so I’m always learning, learning how to work with people differently,” says Jory Shypkowski of the National Guard 81st Civil Support Team.
 
The training is also a chance for the civil support team to prepare for its 18 month evaluation coming up in November.

The most recent serious hazmat emergency the crew responded to was a chemical fire in Williston last year.