St. Clair County EMA Director Ellen Haynes coordinates with first responders during last weekend’s emergency drill.

If a major tornado ripped through the Springville area, St. Clair County would be prepared to respond.

St. Clair’s first responders have conducted a variety of exercises in the past — from a bomb explosion to a school shooting. “However, it’s always good to continue to practice the most likely hazard for our county and that is severe weather,” said Ellen Haynes, Director of the county’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

Last weekend 60 emergency responders and representatives from various agencies got the chance to strengthen actions they would take and correct weaknesses before a real event happens.  The practice tornado event caused great damage and stressed local resources. That caused everyone involved to realistically practice their plans and the incident command system.

Those taking part simulated a large path of destruction over the Argo, Springville and Odenville communities. “When local resources were exhausted, we turned to neighboring counties and the state for mutual aid assistance,” Haynes said.

All the participants took the drill seriously, responding with real-life urgency and purpose of action, Haynes said.  

St. Clair County’s Fire, Law, Emergency Medical Service (EMS which is Regional Paramedical Services), along with the St. Clair County EMA and Sheriff’s Department, State EMA, Red Cross, Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), Volunteer Agencies, and Central Dispatch worked well together to put efficient response into action and then begin the initial recovery phase.

Even clerks and accountants from Springville and the St. Clair County Commission participated — to perfect how they collect and document reimbursable expenses in such an event.  

“I was most proud of the representatives from our St. Clair County Central Dispatch/911 Center,” Haynes said. “They were completely  professional during their dispatch of units — receiving and filling numerous requests, and handling urgent citizen calls. They stayed calm and determined to do their best throughout the exercise.”

A draft ‘After Action Report’ will be received in a week and those involved in the mock disaster will be working to review and offer comments and/or responses.  

Haynes said the document will serve as a starting point for the next multi-discipline, multi-jurisdictional exercise.

“Testing our response, as a community, is how we stay ready for the real events,” Haynes said.