TRR photos by David Hulse |
 |
The Sullivan County American Red Cross (ARC) Disaster Team also took
part in the drill. Supervisor John LiGreci, left, talks with ARC
Executive Director Betty Popovich as students are transferred between
town buildings. |
 |
Lumberland Chief Constable Steve Crum is pictured planning law enforcement
roles with participating Sullivan County deputy sheriffs. State police
also assisted in the drill. |
 |
Lumberland Fire chief Ken Flieger is pictured with responding firefighters.
In a real fire incident, Highland Lake and Yulan departments would
also respond in a plan that the departments have already drilled
and planned, Flieger said. |
 |
As a siren blared an alarm at the town hall, students began filing
out of the elementary school on their way to shelter across County
Road 32 in the town buildings. Some 386 children and 60 faculty and
staff members were evacuated and relocated in 12 minutes. |
 |
Lumberland Highway Department trucks assisted police at road blocks
approaching the school. District buses arrived to transport fifth
and sixth grade students to a shelter site at the Lumberland fire
station. |
Preparing for the worst case
By DAVID HULSE
GLEN SPEY, NY — “It’s a tough and crazy world out there,”
Lumberland Supervisor John LiGreci said in commenting on Monday’s reported
shooting incident, where a 15 year-old died in a New Orleans school gymnasium.
He had reason to think twice about it.
In a joint program last week with Eldred Central School, area
police and fire officials, LiGreci conducted an April 10 drill to test the
town’s emergency evacuation plan. It was a multiple contingency drill to
deal with fire, terrorism or shooting incidents.
“You are never going to cover every possibility, but if something
were to happen on my watch, I just don’t want anyone to be hurt because we
weren’t prepared,” LiGreci said.
School and town officials both pronounced the drill a success.
A similar evacuation drill is planned for the Eldred secondary
school campus in May.
|
