Delaware Emergency Management Agency Port of Wilmington Hazmat Full-Scale and Tabletop Exercise

The Olson Group, Ltd. (OGL) led the design, conduct, and evaluation of two exercises focusing on emergency planning and hazardous materials response at the Port of Wilmington (1 Hausel Road, Wilmington, DE 19801). The Port Alert Tabletop Exercise, conducted in October 2010, focused on a radiological/nuclear threat and response at the Port of Wilmington and its surrounding neighborhoods. The Operation White Cloud Full Scale Exercise, conducted in September 2012, focused on an ammonia leak at the Port, resulting in product contamination, and threats to workers’ and responders’ health and safety, as well as business continuity challenges after the hazardous material was contained. Both exercises brought together the Port’s administration and emergency planners, City of Wilmington Emergency Management and first responders, and state-level hazardous materials response entities. Both the Port Alert TTX and the Operation White Cloud FSE identified several areas for improvement, included recommended revisions to the Port’s emergency notifications and operations plans, and coordination issues among Port personnel and outside emergency management and first responders.