Dane County Emergency Management Announces Mass Decontamination Media Day

August 02, 2004
Ray Peña, Dane County Emergency Management 608/267-2542 Sharyn Wisniewski, County Executive’s Office (608) 267-8823
County Executive

WHEN: Thursday, August 5, 3 to 7 p.m., with a mass decontamination demonstration by firefighters at 3:30 p.m. Members of the media wishing to personally experience the decontamination process (you will get wet) should contact Dave Bursack, hazardous materials planner, at 266-9051. WHERE: The event will be hosted at the Alliant Energy Center in the front parking lot next to the Coliseum Building. Trailers and decontamination equipment will be on display. Firefighters will conduct a mass decontamination demonstration at 3:30 p.m. WHAT: Statement from Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk: “Keeping our communities and citizens safe is all our jobs. I’m pleased to say that Dane County Emergency Management, along with the Dane County Fire Chiefs Association and the City of Madison Fire Department has developed an Emergency Mass Decontamination System. “Using funds we obtained from federal homeland security grants, Dane County purchased five trailers stocked with decontamination equipment. These ’decontamination trailers’ are currently housed at five fire departments located in Blooming Grove, McFarland, Middleton, Shorewood Hills and the Town of Madison. All or parts of the system can be deployed as needed to decontaminate a large number of individuals that may be exposed to chemical, biological or radiological materials, either from an accident or a terrorist event. This equipment also will be used in other types of emergencies as well, such as at fires or evacuations.”