Anthrax drill gives first responders opportunity to train for rare event

Like many of the scenarios local first responders train for, an anthrax incident at the United States Post Office in Cedar Rapids is an unlikely event.

In fact, the city has not had a legitimate anthrax scare since the 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five people and infected 17 others.

Still, emergency responders, postal workers and public health officials say training exercises like the one conducted at the United States Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center, 615 Sixth Ave. SE, is an important endeavor.

'This is an opportunity for us to kind of test our resources,” said Josh Jensen, acting captain at the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and incident commander for Thursday's exercise. 'We've never had an incident, but this is giving us an opportunity to stay sharp.”

Jan Dorsey, public information officer for the postal service in Cedar Rapids, said the drill pulled together police, fire, public health, hazardous materials and inspection services personnel, as well as about a dozen volunteers. Under the scenario, the distribution center's biohazard detection system would alert to a possible hazardous substance, prompting the multiagency response.

'It's just an opportunity for the first responders to come together and prepare,” Dorsey said.

Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow said police blocked off the area and set up the distribution center as a potential crime scene. Firefighters set up a decontamination tent to treat employees, customers and anyone else who might be exposed. Linn County Public Health then provided medical screenings for the exposed people.

An incident command center involving police, fire and federal officials was also set up to coordinate the multiagency response, Buelow said.

'They all sit together and make uniform decisions about what's going to happen,” he said.

Heather Meardon, senior public health nurse for Linn County Public Health, praised the usefulness of the exercise.

'These type of drills are wonderful because you have multiple groups working together,” she said, adding that the drills help participants see firsthand 'what we are doing right and what we are doing wrong.”

While Thursday's exercise focused on an anthrax scare, Jensen said the same lessons can be provided to other scenarios. One of the biggest take-aways from a drill such as this is the importance of communication, Jensen said.

'It gives us an opportunity to really see if we're on the same page,” he said.

The entire drill was overseen by evaluators who will gauge the various agencies' responses to the event.

'We always hope there is never going to be this type of incident,” said Bradley Schetzsle, a National Preparedness Specialist with the Postal Service. 'But we're always prepared.”