FERRIDAY &045; About 50 local volunteers will have their first big test tonight when a walkthrough of the parish decontamination procedure occurs at Ferriday High School.

Last week, the volunteers from local law enforcement agencies, hospitals and communities got the needed training to participate in an upcoming simulated evacuation of Tensas Parish residents in case of a Grand Gulf Nuclear Station radiological release.

On March 22, representatives from the federal government will watch the simulation and give the local Emergency Preparedness office a grade.

At tonight’s walkthrough, and next week’s simulation, the FHS gym will be divided into several stations. Volunteers will first scan cars for possible contamination. Passengers from cars that have a positive first check will go through handheld detectors next. From there anyone found with contamination will be sent to the showers. Once cleaned, they will walk through freestanding detectors for one last check.

Evacuees have to be cleaned at the station before they can travel further into the parish or enter a hospital. Once deemed clean, the evacuees will meet with local volunteers from agencies including the Red Cross, Council on Aging and social services. These agencies will place the evacuees in temporary housing or shelter.

Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Morris White said tonight’s trial run would be used to determine if there are problems to address.

&uot;It’s like anything else,&uot; White said. &uot;We are hoping everything turns out perfect, but you don’t know. We’ve put a lot of training into it.&uot;

If problems arise tonight, White said the group will use the next five days to work out the kinks.

&uot;This is my 26th year,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ve been doing this for a long time, and we’ve never failed one.&uot;

Every six years, Grand Gulf and its neighbors have to run a simulated evacuation.

White said over the years he’s lost several parish volunteers, but had new ones to train this year. &uot;We’ll put them out and see what they can do,&uot; he said.