NATCHEZ &045; An eight-month-old regional hazardous material response team is working to protect Adams and surrounding counties from terror threats.

The team, headed by Adams County civil defense director George Souderes, serves the counties of Wilkinson, Amite, Franklin, Jefferson, Pike, Lincoln and Walthall.

&uot;We treat everything as if it’s the worst case scenario,&uot; Souderes said. &uot;When we get a service station call that there are 20 or 30 gallons of gas on the ground, we treat that as a hazmat call.&uot;

Each of the counties in the region has their own local response team that receives state funding. The local organizations receive the first call and call in the regional team if the matter is of a more serious nature, Souderes said. The state homeland security office must be notified before the regional team is involved.

The regional team is composed of emergency personnel designated from each county. The county can determine the number of people they provide to the regional team. Personnel undergo background checks and proper training before they are officially on the team.

&uot;Right now we don’t have to put out any money on training,&uot; Souderes said. &uot;That’s all coming out of the state’s portion of the homeland security funding.&uot;

Each state receives federal funds for homeland security. The funds are then divided and given to each county.

In addition to Souderes the regional team has two team leaders from the Natchez Fire Department, Stan Owens and David Freeman.

&uot;It’s a good move because every county in that region has some participation,&uot; Souderes said.