South Callaway schools practice radiation drill

September 1, 2011 at 8:23 a.m. | Updated September 1, 2011 at 8:23 a.m.

South Callaway High School students board a bus as they participate in the district's nuclear radiation drill Wednesday at the school.
South Callaway High School students board a bus as they participate in the district's nuclear radiation drill Wednesday at the school.

Along with occasional tornado, fire and earthquake drills, South Callaway School District also performs a nuclear radiation drill.

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Photo by Lauren Clark

Jim Pagan, Charlie Horst, Andy Bowie and Mike Henry

In the event that the Ameren Missouri Callaway Nuclear Plant releases radioactive gas, the district must have a plan in place to evacuate students and get them to safety. More than 1,000 people - South Callaway students and staff - boarded 18 buses Wednesday morning to practice these evacuation procedures. In 15 minutes, the buses were loaded. They then drove to downtown Mokane and then circled back to the schools. It was the first time the buses were taken off campus for the drill, something Donnie DeBrodie, transportation director and safety coordinator, implemented to make the exercise "more realistic."

"I think (the drill) went pretty smooth today," DeBrodie said, adding that his goal of loading the buses in 15 minutes was reached.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.