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Radford City, Radford University, Norfolk Southern, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, Montgomery Regional Hospital, and Pulaski Community Hospital all rose to the challenge and responded to a three-part exercise, which started with a train derailment and chemical spill of methylene chloride along the railroad tracks in Downtown Radford, leading to the toxic fumes affecting Radford University, leading to the evacuation of several dorms at RU, sending approximately 1,000 students and university personnel to safer areas on campus.

Eighteen minutes after the first call came in to 911, RU activated its alert system, warning the students and school personnel via text alerts, emails, cable TV and various other means of the emergency.

“We are that much more experience in handling an event of this magnitude”, said Don Bowman of Radford University, who served as the public information officer for the drill. 

On the RU campus, 19 patients were transported to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, 15 to Pulaski Community

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CRA, an outside emergency management assessment firm, will be preparing a report on the events of today – the preliminary feedback we have received is very positive.  Following standard notification procedures, Radford University activated their emergency alert system a mere 18 minutes after the simulated train derailment took place and the City had information prepared for release within 30 minutes of the incident.  According to CRA, these numbers are quite impressive.  A thorough assessment of all policies and procedures relating to all levels of response to the incidents and information that was prepared for release had it been a real emergency is expected in the coming months, added Hawke.

During an afternoon press conference, Radford Fire Chief Lee Simpkins said, “I have been in the fire department for 38 years and we have had many of incidents that we have actually worked side-by-side, but we never had the numbers of players that voluntarily came to the table and everybody played in the same sandbox and got along. That has to be the biggest accomplishment of today.”

Those agencies involved in Wednesday’s exercise included the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Health, Radford Fire and Rescue, Radford Police Department, Radford University, RU Police Department, Radford Sheriff’s Office, Radford City Department of Social Services, Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance, New River Valley Community Services Board, Norfolk-Southern Railway, Pulaski County EMS, REMSI, Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, Radford EMS, Carilion Patient Transport System, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Pulaski Community Hospital, American Red Cross, Baker’s Best, various local media, Radford/Fairlawn Ministerial Association, CRA, Fairlawn Volunteer Fire Department, Southwestern Virginia EMS Council and New River Health District.

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