MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) — Madison County stepped in to assist Louisville first responders during cleanup efforts at the UPS plane crash site, providing essential hazmat equipment to help ensure safety.
Madison County Judge Executive Reagan Taylor said the county responded after Kentucky Emergency Management requested additional resources.
“Folks around the state know what others may have and may not have, and so it’s a really good partnership to be there for another community in times of need,” Taylor said.
Thanks to the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, Madison County had extra hazmat gear, including decontamination suits, ready to deploy. On Thursday, firefighters and officials loaded the equipment for transport to Louisville.
Emergency Management Director Tim Gray explained that first responders at the crash site must be cautious about potential hazardous materials that may have been aboard the plane.
Gray said that while some materials may be harmless individually, they could pose risks when mixed.
“You kind of have to go into those situations thinking of the worst and hoping for the best,” Taylor said.
The decontamination suits are crucial for responders conducting soil testing or entering areas that could be contaminated.
“Those suits protect the individuals who have to go into hazardous areas to make sure everything is cleaned up properly,” Taylor added.
Although the crash didn’t occur in Madison County, Taylor said offering help was simply the right thing to do.
“For citizens in emergencies, it doesn’t need to be where county lines start and stop. We’re Kentuckians,” he said.
Leave a Comment