Emergency crews prepare for potential crisis situations in Mid-Missouri

Local, state and federal agencies met in Jefferson City Thursday to prepare for potential large-scale emergencies.

Emergency response teams met to practice their response to the release of an unknown substance like a chemical or biological threat.

The drill was put on by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at the state public health laboratory.

The purpose was to test the response of the different agencies on communication and how crews would work together.

One situation DHSS gave as an example was the response to someone finding a threatening letter with powder in a building or crowded area.

Crews ran through various steps like setting up a decontamination tent, collecting samples of a dangerous substance, interviewing witnesses and more.

Dozens of people were involved in the exercise including employees of the public health lab, FBI, Cole County Emergency Response Team, Jefferson City fire and police departments, capitol police and more.

DHSS stressed the importance of agencies being prepared for any threat.

“You never know what’s going to happen, so you need to be prepared for any eventuality or any occurrence of an emergency and making sure our state, federal and local law enforcement, first responders and public health agencies work together, practice and get on the same page,” Ryan Hobart with DHSS said.