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*Michigan HazMat Teams Prepare for Hazardous Material Threats*

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? April 17, 2023*

*LANSING, MICH*. To learn how to better prepare for chemical disasters, hazmat teams from across the state are assembling with local emergency managers and other first responders for the second annual Michigan State Police (MSP) Michigan HazMat Responder Conference at Crystal Mountain Resort in Thompsonville, from April 17 ? 19.?

?Dealing with hazardous materials is a dangerous job,? said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the MSP/Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (EMHSD). ?Our goal in bringing these teams together is to enhance capabilities across the state to respond effectively and safely to all hazmat?incidents.?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????

The need for HazMat team training and coordination was demonstrated on a large scale in Michigan?s Upper Peninsula last fall. On Oct. 6, 2022, an industrial fire sparked at a paper plant and a neighboring warehouse on the Menominee River in the city of Menominee. Multiple local teams worked together to successfully contain toxic chemicals, protect the local drinking water supply, and keep residents informed.

?Responding to railroad incidents is an important topic this year,? Captain Sweeney said. ?There is no doubt that rail safety and the ability to respond to hazmat situations involving trains are at the forefront for us now and will continue to be well into the future.?

The MSP offers resources and training through the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Training Center located in Dimondale, Mich. Its programs focus on hazardous materials response, offering classroom and hands-on training for first responders and the private sector. This conference is designed to be an extension of the training center.

For more information on how to prepare before, during, and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready [ [link removed] ] or follow MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS [ [link removed] ].

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"The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division is responsible for coordinating state and federal resources to assist local government in response and relief activities in the event of an emergency or disaster, as well as coordinating homeland security initiatives and various federal grants."

*FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:*

Lauren Thompson-Phillips, MSP/EMHSD Public Information Officer, 517-216-0103

Note: The conference runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., April 17-19. Media is invited to attend but are encouraged to RSVP to Wendy Galbreath, 517-449-8956

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* NR-007 HazMat Conference.pdf [ [link removed] ]



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