'Dirty bomb' focus of drill

CORRECTION -- The article on Berkeley County's drill to test the county's ability to respond to a "dirty bomb" that ran on Page 2-B of Monday's Post and Courier reported the wrong date for the event. The drill will be all day Wednesday. The Post and Courier regrets the error.

MONCKS CORNER — Areas around Berkeley County, primarily Moncks Corner, might look like a war zone Wednesday during a 12-hour drill to test the region's response to a "dirty bomb."

Sponsors are asking residents not to be alarmed at what may seem like an out-of-the-ordinary response and rescue for what actually is a learning exercise for state and local emergency responders faced with a terrorist incident.

As many as 2,000 people from agencies across the Lowcountry will be taking part, beginning at 5 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m.

The event is being called the Lowcountry Weapons of Mass Destruction Full-Scale Exercise.

The "crisis" will begin shortly after 7:30 a.m., following a safety briefing, Berkeley County Emergency Preparedness Director Tom Smith said.

Motorists in the area should expect to see all sorts of official vehicles, large and small, on the road, he said.

Jurisdictions around the area will send in mutual aid crews and equipment, including Georgetown County and state and federal officials from Columbia.

Various levels of response will be set up, including an on-site incident command structure, threat assessment, decontamination, and medical triage, treatment and removal protocols.

During the day, several dozen "wounded" victim-volunteers, some from the Naval Weapons Station, will be transported to local hospitals for treatment, he said.

The exercise will originate at the Berkeley County Emergency Services Training Center, 474 Reid Hill Road, Moncks Corner.

Possible traffic congestion may occur at the intersection of U.S. Highway 52 North and Rembert C. Dennis Boulevard in Moncks Corner, officials said.

Staging areas for the drill include the Moncks Corner Wal-Mart parking lot, Johnny's car lot, and the Food Lion parking lot.

"It's the biggest drill in the last five years," Smith said.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.