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June 6, 2007

Emergency test at the port this morning

PROVIDENCE – Emergency responders are conducting a drill at 9 a.m. today to test how quickly they can evacuate nine businesses at the Port of Providence.

The premise for the evacuation is that a plane has crashed at the port, according to James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department.

The drill gives the Providence Fire Department an opportunity to test its reverse 911 system, Taylor said. The system allows the communications department to record a message and use the reverse 911 calling system to phone the affected businesses and replay that message, telling them they must evacuate the area.

Also, the drill will test how quickly the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority can get buses to the port in order to evacuate the businesses.

Participating businesses include KeySpan, American Equipment Rental, the Narragansett Bay Commission and the Johnson & Wales location at the port.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 8:51 AM | Permalink

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