Optimist-Outlook

Marianna Optimist Club Activities
By Don Jones - January 13th, 2009
"Haz-Mat Team Gets Wake-Up Call!"

Health Department Head, William Long, and Fire Chief, Byron Bennett, principal member of the area’s, "Hazardous Materials Response Team," explained the recent, "Court House Flag Incident," to members of the Marianna Optimist Club.
William Long congratulated the City’s new Fire Chief, Bryan Bennett, and his Hazardous Materials Response Team for the excellent manner in which they responded to the unusual threat at the County Courthouse involving an American flag, a Holy Bible, and a suspicious powdery substance. Reportedly, some unknown person, or persons placed a U.S. Flag and a Holy Bible on the porch in front of the County Court House entrance for some unknown reason.
The incident began when the sheriff’s deputy, who normally opens the court house doors for business each morning, discovered a flag and bible lying on the floor, in front of the main entrance. The deputy put on a pair of latex gloves, and removed the suspicious articles, then noticed a powdery substance on his nicely pressed, green uniform. Then, recalling a similar incident involving the U.S. Postal Service, he realized the powdery substance could be a biological agent, so he reported it to the Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office quickly contacted the city fire department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team that is trained and prepared for such emergencies.
Chief Bennett and the Hazardous Materials Response Team arrived at the scene and immediately secured the area to prevent further contamination, then began decontamination of the area and personnel. Decontamination is concerned primarily with safety. Therefore, when it comes to personnel decontamination it may seem crude, or even a bit demeaning in certain cases. Without discrimination, all who may have contacted the mysterious powder were asked to dress-up in clean prisoner’s garb while their street clothing was placed in plastic bags for decontamination and testing by the County Health Department.
Chief Bennett spoke next, and expressed his deep appreciation for the exceptional cooperation by all citizens involved in the inconvenient, but vital process of decontamination. Important, also, was the excellent response by the six departments involved: City Police, County Sheriff, City Fire, County Fire and Rescue, Public Health, Emergency Management, and Bay County Hazardous Response Team. Had this powdery substance tested positive as a biological agent, many lives would have been saved. However, the County Health Department Laboratory determined the powder non-hazardous and the incident a wake-up call in which many valuable lessons were learned.