Emergency Crews Prep For Nuclear Fallout In Massive Quake Drill
SHERMAN OAKS (CBS) — As Japan struggles with the nuclear aftermath of its major quake and tsunami, local emergency personnel here in the Southland are training for a similar type of emergency.
KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports Battalion Chief Jack Wise with the Los Angeles Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue team disaster said the exercise held on Friday anticipates a magnitude 7.2 quake.
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The drill — held from 6:30 a.m. to noon at the USAR training facility in Sherman Oaks — is aimed at training the task forces in operating with full protective suits in an environment where they will have limited time to evacuate victims and handle decontamination procedures of all involved in the aftermath.
The USAR team, formally known as California Task Force 1, will coordinate and deploy hazardous-materials squads, canine teams and rescue personnel in the drill.
Such teams were deployed to New York City in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
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