At 8:45 am on Friday March 9th, the Lawrence County Dispatch Center notified the Imboden Volunteer Fire Department, Office Of Emergency Services, Arkansas State Police and Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office of a mock tornado that was located in Annieville headed towards Imboden, the next page in the drill indicated that the Sloan Hendrix Campus had taken a direct hit.
Imboden Fire Chief Chris Jones implemented the Disaster Response Program already in place in the county. Fire Departments from all over Lawrence County including Ravenden, Black Rock, Walnut Ridge, Hoxie, Strawberry and Saffell responded. The Walnut Ridge Police Department and Ravenden Police Department also responded to assist. The Pocahontas Fire Department, Paragould Fire Department, Randolph County OES Coordinator Marty Cagle, Mayor of Pocahontas Frank Biggers and ADEM (Arkansas Department Of Emergency Management) were also on the scene. Ambulances from Spring River Ambulance and Medic One were also in attendance for the drill.
Firemen and medical personnel assisted victims, some with mock injuries and other mock casualties. Law Enforcement was in place for crowd control and traffic control.The Lawrence County Mobile Command Center was set up at the Bill McCurley Gymnasium and handled all communications for the exercise. A helicopter from Air-Evac was flown in as well during the exercise.
Assistant Chief Jim Jones and Captain Joe Chappell of the Imboden Volunteer Fire Department coordinated the efforts at the High School building. The event was the second disaster drill in Lawrence County this year.
For more information on the Imboden Volunteer Fire Department visit www.imbodenarkansas.com .
For more information on the Walnut Ridge Fire Department, visit their website at www.walnutridgefd.com .
For more information on the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, visit their site at www.lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com .
