(The following story by Mallory McGowin appeared on the Connect Mid Missouri website on August 24, 2009.)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — It’s the first training exercise of its kind.
Emergency responders from across the Show-Me State gathered in the Capital City Monday to practice responding to a passenger train emergency.
Officials from state emergency agencies and AMTRAK held a day-long hands-on class for paramedics, firefighters, and police officers who may respond to a railroad emergency.
Emergency officials said railcar scenarios are often not a top priority on emergency response plans.
“Sometimes its out of sight, out of mind. Many times they’re not in your everyday community all the time; they pass through your entity,” said Missouri Emergency Response Commission Executive Director Dawn Warren. “And this is an opportunity to ensure those plans are up-to-date, ensure that the trains are included in the emergency preparedness plans, and ensure that there are ample opportunities for training across the state.”
This training was made possible by a grant from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration.
The grant makes all Missouri emergency responders eligible to receive this training.
The same class will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.