First responders prep with emergency drills

WASHINGTON - On the CSX tracks North of Chrystal City, emergency officials created a complicated nightmare scenario, involving an explosive device detonating, injuring bystanders and perforating a train car leading to the release of hazardous chemicals.

The exercise, along with others happening across Northern Virginia and in the District, was part of National Preparedness Month.

"So when the real thing happens, we're trained to the fullest, we know what to do, we know where to go," says Jose Ortiz, with the Arlington County Fire Department.

Ortiz says the exercise involves Arlington County Fire and Police, Alexandria Fire and Police, Offices of Emergency Management, the FBI, Red Cross and volunteers pretending to be burn victims.

"This is the first time on this capacity and magnitude, before we did it on a smaller scale."

Other exercises involved a simulated police chase in Fairfax City and Fairfax County, a simulated bombing at the Dulles North Park and Ride on Old Ox Road, and another simulated bombing at the Rippon VRE station.

Ortiz says Northern Virginia is a high-risk area because of the Pentagon, and two major airports, as well as it's proximity of Washington, D.C.

"You really never know how folks are going to respond until they have an actual situation, so we're trying to make it as realistic as we possibly can," says Darrell Darnell, director of the city's emergency management agency.

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