All News Releases By Date

Mystic Region To Hold Mass Transit Terrorism Simulation in Malden and Melrose

Release Date: 06/21/2002
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014) Ed Kelly, Director, Melrose EMA (781-979-4111) Dennis LaFrenier, Chief, Malden Fire Dept (781-397-7383)

BOSTON – On Sunday, June 23, 2002, the Mystic Region Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) in partnership with Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will conduct a mass casualty and hazardous materials exercise simulating the result of a terrorist act.

The exercise, simulating the crash and contamination of two large transportation vehicles, will be staged at approximately 195 Canal Street, Malden Mass., commencing at 9:00 AM. The entire operations will be coordinated from the Melrose Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Melrose City Hall, 562 Main Street, Melrose, Mass.. The EOC will be operating from 9:00AM to noon. The press is welcomed at both sites, and a public information officer will assist the press in covering this simulation.

The planning for this exercise began over six months ago, prior to the national homeland security transportation alert. This simulation is designed to provide "hands-on" experience so that the Mystic Region communities can improve their ability to respond to an emergency. The fire, police, emergency management, public highways, and public health departments of the communities of Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Stoneham, Wakefield, and Winthrop will respond and participate in this exercise.

More than 50 volunteers from Malden Drama Club will be costumed to dramatize their injuries and will be staged, rescued and transported to Whidden, Lawrence Memorial, or Melrose/Wakefield hospitals and treated. These hospitals will exercise their hazardous material response and mass casualty plans as required for their re-certification.

Residents surrounding 195 Canal Street received an advance notification of the simulation thanks to the efforts of Melrose Auxiliary Police. Likewise, the Mayors of both Malden and Melrose have actively assisted in the preparations for this event. MEMA supplied a small grant to cover incidental costs incurred during this simulation.

The public is invited to view the event at 195 Canal Street from a designated area beginning at 9:00 AM hrs. The public is asked not to drive to this location due to the number of response vehicles that will be involved in the simulation.