News
Entergy partners with VFD for training
Vicksburg Fire Department and Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant partnered to train for confined space rescues. Warren County BOS approves county to assist in emergency situations.
VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station and Vicksburg Fire Department recently partnered to complete a confined rescue training.
Volunteer employees from Grand Gulf Nuclear Station recently completed an intensive confined space rescue course, emerging certified and ready to respond to emergencies in the plant’s unique industrial environment.
The training, conducted June 22-25 at a VFD station, paired 15 Grand Gulf volunteers with Vicksburg firefighters under the instruction of Matt Bush, James Milstead and Jeri Stracener, Entergy nuclear’s site safety coordinators. VFD donated facilities while Entergy employees supplied all materials and instructors.
The course focused on producing more well-rounded rescuers who are capable of safely and effectively responding to a wide variety of confined space and rope rescue incidents. Response capabilities are enhanced by extensive hands-on learning stations and realistic problem-solving exercises, what hazards are encountered in a confined space, the hazardous conditions that would prevent entry, how to respond to a crisis emergency, what personal protective equipment needs to be worn, and the roles and responsibilities team members.
“Nuclear is a safety conscious environment with unique designs that could potentially get people into a situation that would require people to respond,” said Jeri Stracener, Grand Gulf ‘s safety coordinator. “Working with the Vicksburg Fire Department is such a great resource. Being able to learn from each other and use their facilities, they now know our standards. If we ever have to call on them, taking the training together allows us to work more cohesive as a team.”
The groups will continue to work together to gain proficiency.
The Warren County Board of Supervisors voted in a meeting held Monday, July 6, to allow the county firefighters to also respond to Grand Gulf in the case of emergency. County fire departments are now able to assist in emergency situations at the Grand Gulf facility.
