Hazardous Materials Response Team

In 1997 County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, along with the Rockland County Legislature, recognized the need of, and appropriated funds for, a specialized hazardous material incident response team. On January 1, 1998, the Rockland County Hazardous Materials Response Team was placed into service.

Today the team is comprised of 70 volunteer representatives from fire, police, medical services and local businesses. All members are trained to the level of Hazardous Material Technician, while some hold the additional status of Hazardous Material Specialist. The team responds to requests for mitigation of chemical-related hazards, ranging from small household spills to large container accidents.

Their first major incident that tested the capabilities of the team was in July of 1998. A Conrail train traveling from Philadelphia enroute to Albany derailed in a remote location of Stony Point along the Hudson River.  The train was identified to be carrying various hazardous materials. As officials responded and began to assess possible environmental impacts, the Rockland County Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) Response Team was called to the scene.  The team's initial observations consisted of the discoloration of surface vegetation in the area and a car lying in the Hudson River. Further assessments confirmed a suspicion that the car lying in the river contained sodium hydroxide. The Coast Guard temporarily shut down area river traffic. Over the course of two days, the team collaborated with multiple county, state and federal agencies, assessed toxicity levels of air, water, and soil and advised officials of proper cleanup and removal procedures.

Since its inception, the Haz-Mat Team has partnered with local, state and federal agencies to prepare for various types of incidents.  Members continue to work closely with the Rockland County Health Department and Bioterrorism Team officials in developing protocol for terrorist response. A key component to this preplanning was the purchase of tetracore tickets, which allowed field evaluations to be performed while responding to over 200 reports of white powder after a positive report of anthrax in Washington, DC. Along with the tetracore tickets and sophisticated detection equipment, a rapid response vehicle, foam unit and fully equipped response trailer will enable the team to respond to any suspicion of substances commonly used by terrorists.

In the past the team has been called upon during Presidential and Heads of State visits, and it continues to offer its expertise and support throughout the metropolitan area to local emergency response agencies.