Vacant apartments host WMD exercises (mold and asbestos)

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November 3, 2009

Vacant apartments host WMD exercises

Star report

Emergency workers

are planning to comb through a decrepit apartment building today as if

a chemical or biological weapon were detonated in it, or at least

nearby.

It's a training exercise for local police, firefighters and other first

responders.

The

scenario: A " Weapons of Mass Destruction incident " at the Keystone

Tower, a vacant high-rise on the city's northeast side, at 45th Street

and ville Road.

The

emergency workers will don suits designed to protect from hazardous

materials and then inspect the building for toxic residue. They may

find some, even though the WMD is make-believe.

" We're

fairly certain there's asbestos and mold, " said Debbie Fletcher, a

spokesperson for the city's Department of Public Safety, " and we're

looking to see if there's anything else in there. "

Two

three-person teams would be going into each of the two towers shortly

after 9 a.m., Fletcher said. They will inspect each floor videotaping

and documenting the conditions.

They should finish at about 3:30 p.m., Fletcher said

http://www.indystar.com/article/20091103/NEWS02/911030378/Vacant+apartments+host\

+WMD+exercises