GGC Conducts Multi-Agency Emergency Drill

Submitted by GGC

Georgia Gwinnett College and Gwinnett County conducted a multi-agency training exercise July 31 that simulated a hazardous material (HAZMAT) spill within one of the college’s laboratories.

The drill scenario involved a 10-gallon spill of hydrochloric acid, a chemical routinely used in college laboratory experiments. Representatives of the college, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services and Gwinnett County Emergency Management were involved in the drill exercise. While there was a short evacuation of a few staff members in the involved building, the drill did not disrupt normal campus operations and no campus streets were closed for the exercise.

“The purpose of this exercise is to enhance GGC’s preparedness in the areas of HAZMAT containment, alert notification, communication, and information sharing among GGC personnel and Gwinnett County first responders,” said Eddie Beauchamp, vice president for Operations. “The college’s Office of Public Safety routinely conducts exercises to ensure readiness in confronting various potential hazards and incidents that could occur on campus.”

The successful drill enables college and county representatives to evaluate their incident responses and seek ways to ensure continuous improvement.

Photo: Representatives of Georgia Gwinnett College, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services and Gwinnett County Emergency Management and respond to staged news media questions as part of today’s multi-agency emergency drill. Credit: GGC