Scarywood will host hazmat drill for emergency responders

Where else to stage a frightening hazardous materials scenario than at Scarywood?

The Halloween makeover at Silverwood Theme Park in North Idaho will serve as the setting Tuesday for a major training exercise led by the Idaho National Guard’s 101st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.

“This full-scale exercise aims to challenge Kootenai County and other responders in executing a comprehensive response to a situation involving a covert dispersal of an unknown hazard in Silverwood Theme Park during the October Scarywood season,” the Guard said in a news release Friday.

Also participating will be Kootenai County, Timberlake Fire Protection District, Panhandle Health District and the FBI. The agencies will be assessed on how they react to a potential man-made threat.

As part of its October schedule, the park will be closed to the public Tuesday. The grounds “will provide the trainees with a realistic environment in which to train,” the state said.

Exercise objectives include demonstrating the ability of responders to recognize the threat and alert the public; deploying the right resources in response to the threat; conducting medical operations; and coordinating information.

The exercise is expected to last until 9 p.m. and will culminate in an extensive assessment afterward.

“This is another opportunity for local, state and federal organizations to come together, train, learn and grow as a capable interagency response force,” said Maj. Anthony Vincelli, commander of the Guard’s civil support team. “The more training opportunities we take to exercise these functions, the better off we are when it matters most—and it’s a matter of when, not if.”