HERMISTON — Good Shepherd Health Care System will host and participate Tuesday, Sept. 17, in a full-scale disaster preparedness drill.

The comprehensive emergency response exercise will provide training to GSHCS staff in their roles and responsibilities during disasters, and how to execute coordinated response efforts with outside agencies and community partners, according to a press release from Good Shepherd. The drill, which takes place from noon to 3:30 p.m., will originate at Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center in Hermiston, simulating a ChemPack deployment, with participation from local emergency medical services, hazmat teams and law enforcement agencies.

In addition to the hospital and EOTEC, the following local agencies and organizations are participating in the drill:

Hermiston Airport

Life Flight Network

National Weather Service

Oregon HAZMAT 10

Oregon Health Authority

Oregon State Police

Oregon Department of Transportation

Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office

Umatilla County Emergency Management

Umatilla County Health Department

Umatilla County Fire District No. 1

Umatilla Rural Fire District

What is a ChemPack?

A ChemPack is a prepackaged unit of emergency medications and antidotes specifically designed to treat victims exposed to chemical agents. These packs are an essential part of our emergency preparedness and response strategy for chemical emergencies. They contain a variety of medications to counteract the effects of different types of chemical agents, ensuring that medical teams have the necessary resources to provide immediate and effective treatment in the event of a chemical incident.

Objective of the exercise

The exercise tests and evaluates the community’s response capabilities for handling hazardous material incidents. It will provide valuable insights into the coordination between various emergency response teams, including EMS, hazmat, law enforcement and hospital staff.

Public awareness and safety

This exercise is a controlled simulation. No actual chemicals or hazardous materials will be deployed during this event. The presence of emergency response vehicles and personnel at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center is part of the planned drill.

“This is about taking care of our community,” GSHCS President and CEO Art Mathisen said in the press release. “We want to give our Good Shepherd team and local agencies the experience needed to be as prepared as possible for real-world occurrences.”

Access to medical care at Good Shepherd Health Care System will not be affected by the drill.

“Good Shepherd will remain fully operational while the drill is underway. Patients may hear and see our emergency response system and local agency officials on our campus during that timec frame, but rest assured it is only a scheduled drill,” according to Mathisen.