Monday, November 21, 2005

MEMORANDUM

TO: Area Media

FROM: Mimi Cunningham

DATE: Nov. 21, 2005

RE: Hazardous Materials Exercise

11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22, Dobo Hall, UNCW Campus

You are cordially invited to cover a hazardous materials exercise starting at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Dobo Hall on the campus of UNC Wilmington. You should plan to arrive at the back of Dobo Hall on Cahill Drive extension – a white tent will serve as the operations center. This is a joint effort of the university and New Hanover County Emergency Management, Wilmington Fire Department, Piedmont Natural Gas, UNCW University Police, and UNCW Environmental Health and Safety.

According to Stan Harts, director of UNCW Environmental Health and Safety, the purpose of this exercise is to test UNCW’s response to a major hazardous material incident and test our relationships with city and county agencies and responders. The exercise is funded by a Hazardous Materials Planning Grant awarded to New Hanover County through the N.C. Division of Emergency Management.

UNCW is in the process of writing an all hazards plan. This exercise will help identify areas where we need to improve, said Harts. Dobo Hall houses the departments of chemistry and biochemistry and biology and marine biology. Harts can be reached at 910/962-3108 for additional information.