Summit County Emergency Management Agency partnered with Macedonia police, fire and service departments for a comprehensive hazardous materials training exercise July 17 at the Conrail Yard.
The drill simulated response to a leaking rail tanker car and involved the State Emergency Response Commission, Norfolk Southern Railroad and Summit County Hazmat Response Team. The exercise focused on strengthening coordination between agencies and testing unified command procedures.
The training centered around Norfolk Southern’s Safety Train, a mobile classroom with specialized tank and box cars designed for hands-on hazardous materials response training. Local first responders worked directly with the equipment to gain experience managing complex rail incidents.
Multi-agency drill simulates tanker car leak at Conrail Yard
The exercise reinforced unified command principles, ensuring fire, police, dispatch, public works and hazmat teams operate under a shared framework during emergencies.
“This type of training is invaluable,” said Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “It ensures that all agencies are speaking the same language and working as one cohesive unit when it matters most.”
EMA Director Tom Smoot emphasized the importance of building response muscle memory through regular drills. “When a real incident occurs, there’s no time to figure out the process. We need to act swiftly, safely, and together.”
The training prepares first responders for real-world coordination required during large-scale emergencies involving hazardous materials and other threats.
