UPDATE:
Potsdam:
Enbridge St Lawrence Gas, in partnership with St Lawrence County Emergency Services, conducted a natural gas related mock emergency exercise on September 15th in the Village of Potsdam. The event lasted nearly 3 hours and was attended by 10 Enbridge St Lawrence Gas representatives and approximately 65 emergency services and first responders from St Lawrence County. Participants included fire departments from Potsdam, Canton, Parishville, West Stockholm, West Potsdam, and Hannawa Falls, as well as Potsdam Rescue Squad and the Potsdam Police department. St Lawrence County emergency services personnel were also on hand.
Briefings were held prior to the drill to cover several pertinent topics such as natural gas properties, gas migration, ventilation strategies and response tactics. An “incident review” was held after the drill to discuss drill performance and to answer any questions raised as a result.
All participants gave positive reviews of the training session and relationships between agencies were solidified and improved. Future emergency response should only be improved as a result of the drill.
Malone:
Liberty Utilities, in partnership with Franklin County Emergency Services, conducted a natural gas related mock emergency exercise on September 10th in the Village of Malone. The event lasted approximately 3:00 and was attended by 10 Liberty Utilities representatives and more than 70 emergency services personnel and first responders from Franklin County. Participants included fire departments from Brushton, Burke, Chateaugay, Constable, Malone, Moira and Westville, as well as police agencies from the Village of Malone and the Franklin County Sherriff.
The drill was an excellent opportunity for the Company and the agencies to practice mutual response in a simulated situation, and then collaborate on what went well and what areas may need improvement. It will certainly lend itself to open lines of communications going forward and Liberty Utilities sponsored training sessions with the agencies that will foster increased knowledge and improved cooperation in the future.
As a requirement of Public Service Commission Case Order (15-G-0382), Liberty Utilities (SLG) will host natural gas related mock exercises in partnership with Franklin County and St. Lawrence County Emergency Services on September 10th at 6:00PM (Malone) and September 15th at 10:00AM (Potsdam). SLG will be inviting fire departments from throughout the counties as well as local DPWs and police services.
Malone’s exercise will be staged in the vicinity of William and Andrus Streets, while Potsdam’s is planned for Castle Drive. SLG and local fire departments will have participating personnel and equipment in the area. Please be aware that at some point during the events, traffic may be temporarily blocked and/or redirected.
This exercise is for training purposes and is only a drill. There will be no danger to the general public.
Please notify Tom Carroll (Damage Prevention Coordinator) at 315-842-2593 if you have any comments, questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Darren Wilson
Manager Distribution Operations