MARQUETTE, MI-- Emergency management agencies are gathering in Marquette Wednesday to clean up a simulated radioactive spill.
It’s part of a hazardous materials exercise initiated by the 51st Michigan National Guard Civil Support Team from Battle Creek. The unit specializes in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives operations and support.
Marquette Fire Chief Tom Belt says it’s the first time the unit has conducted winter exercises in the area. He says it’s a great way to test out a full-fledged hazardous material response team.
“It really has all the latest and the most technologically advanced equipment,” he says. “Second, it gives us a really good chance to practice our radio and communications interoperability. Everybody’s working off different frequencies, different types of radio systems, and we’ll be joining them all together, patching them together and talking and communicating with each other.”
Local police will be called to Power Station #4 at the northern end of Powdermill Road to check out a suspicious substance. Belt says his department will use its own radiation-detecting equipment, then call on the county’s Incident Command System and responding agencies.
The exercise will begin around 10:30 a.m.
