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Disaster Drill in Clinton Offers Valuable Lessons


Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher holds a press conference as a simulated disaster drill unfolds in the city on April 2.

Clinton firefighters, a hovering AirCare helicopter, Jackson television news crews, and “injured” students made the simulated disaster drill seem all too real.

Under the drill’s scenario, a railroad car derailment near Monroe Street late one afternoon sparked a chlorine gas leak resulting in the death of a school bus driver. In addition, 28 Clinton public school students were rushed to two Jackson hospitals and a large number of residents quickly evacuated the area.

Staged at Clinton Fire Station No. 2, the city’s April 2 disaster drill included a press conference by Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher as Jackson TV reporters and Mississippi College communication students fired questions.

The drill helped Clinton city leaders, public relations officers and first responders improve emergency response plans and strengthen communications should a disaster really happen.

Joint operations like this are invaluable, Fisher told reporters Thursday. “It allows us to meet and know each other prior to a disaster. We will do one every year.”

MC communication professor Tim Nicholas and Mignon Kucia assigned their students to cover the event and observe the first responders in action. Some students played the role of news reporters.

“We learned how to get information and ask tough questions,” said communication major Leslie Fallon, 19, of Tampa, Florida. Watching veteran TV reporters like Bert Case of WAPT-16 at the press conference provided her with some good insights. It’s the sort of thing that students won’t get in textbooks, says the Lady Choctaws soccer player.

The incident showed the importance of sending out “information that’s accurate and as quick as possible,” added MC communication Bretton Crosby, 21, of Brookhaven.

Clinton public information officer Mark Jones said the disaster drill dealt with rumors, problems with social media and a variety of other issues occurring when disaster strikes a community. Typically, he said, “people think of the worst-case scenario.”

Making it look like the real thing, a number of Clinton students were bandaged and appeared like they were bleeding as firefighters arrived on the scene.

“It gave us examples of what really happens when you get in the public relations field,” said MC senior Katy Pirkle, 22, of St. Louis, Missouri. “It was intense. It made my heart beat faster.”

Last year, Clinton city leaders initiated an “active shooter” drill at Clinton High School that involved local students and scores of first responders. The FBI, MEMA, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office as well as Mississippi College and Clinton Public Schools were on hand to deal with the emergency.