GISD, first responders to hold HAZMAT drill

GONZALES — At 9 a.m.  March 4, Gonzales ISD, in coordination with local first responders, will hold a mock Hazmat (hazardous materials) incident at the intersection of Seydler St. and Sarah DeWitt Dr. The event is an evacuation drill to get students safely away from the high school campus in the event of a tanker truck fuel spill incident.

“We would be evacuating them because of the potential for fire,” Gonzales County Emergency Management Coordinator Jimmy Harless said. “GISD wants to practice evacuating the high school.”

Students will board school buses, which will transport them to Apache Field — where students will remain for about 45 minutes.

“Since this is the first one, the school wanted to handle it like a walk-through,” Harless said. “We as emergency responders would like the drill as realistic as possible, but for the school’s sake, they wanted a walk-through.”

Harless said neither Seydler nor Sarah DeWitt will be closed during the drill.

“The roads will be open, and we’re going to take them to the field for about 45 minutes and then take them back to school.”

First responders participating in the drill will include Gonzales Fire Department, EMS, GPD, GCSO, Texas Highway Patrol and Texas Department of Transportation.