VA Business Toolkit
Citizen Corps
How can we make this site better?
Let us know ...
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
10501 Trade Court, Richmond, VA 23236
CONTACT:
Bob Spieldenner, VDEM, (804) 897-6510
bob.spieldenner@vdem.virginia.gov
FOR RELEASE AT WILL- July 1, 2010
RICHMOND, VA –Southwestern and south central Virginia has a new Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team headquartered in the city of Radford. A regional hazmat team, made up of local first responders from multiple localities, receives state training and funds in exchange for responding as a team to hazardous materials emergencies in a specific geographical area outside of their local jurisdiction. In Virginia, there are 13 of these state-contracted teams, four of them along the Interstate 81 corridor.
The New River Valley Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team will cover Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Tazewell (north and east of Route 16) and Wythe counties and the cities of Galax and Radford. Previously, this region was covered by the Giles County Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team, headquartered in Pearisburg, Va.
VDEM is relocating the team to improve service due to the growth in the area along Interstate 81, around colleges and universities, and near major rail lines.
“Moving the region’s headquarters from Giles County to Radford will decrease response times for emergencies in the area, and it will cut travel time to southern areas of the state,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “Also, the higher population surrounding the new headquarters will make it easier to recruit new team members.”
The all-volunteer Giles County team served the region for 20 years, and team members will continue be a part of the New River Valley team. VDEM will move some equipment to Radford, while maintaining some assets in Giles County.
“Maintaining hazmat equipment is no small task, and the Giles team members set a high standard that we’re sure the New River Valley team will continue,” said Wade Collins, deputy director for VDEM’s Technological Hazards Division and manager for Virginia’s regional hazmat teams. “Giles County Administrator Chris McClarney and Team Leader Billy McCrosky made the transition seamless, helping Radford City Manager David Ridpath and Radford City Fire Chief Lee Simpkins take on the responsibilities that they’ve held for so long.”
Regional hazmat teams are formed through contracts between the Commonwealth and localities that serve as headquarters.
###