Dallas County Emergency Management Agency Director Rhonda Johnson received permission from commissioners Monday to accept a $24,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The grant, which is administered by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, will allow the county to hold a full-scale hazardous materials training exercise.

“Selma and Dallas County has quite a large amount of hazardous chemicals passing through the county on a daily basis via railroad and highway transport,” Johnson said. “It is extremely important for our responders that they know how to handle chemical spills for their personal safety, as well as for public safety.”

The exercise is mandatory by state law.

“Counties are required to plan and execute exercises annually in order to continue to receive federal and state funding,” Johnson said.

The grant will also help smaller surrounding counties that plan to participate in the training exercise.

“It is really hard on rural counties to be able to find money within smaller budgets to fund larger exercises,” Johnson said. “This funding is extremely important, and I hope we will be able to collaborate with adjacent counties to help them meet their objectives as well.”

The county’s HAZMAT team, which is made up of firefighters with the Selma Fire Department, along with other first responders, will take part in the drill. While many of them have trained and studied situations that involve hazardous materials, this exercise will give them more experience.

“These firemen have had extensive training to handle spills; however, hands-on training provides them, as well as other departments, [with an opportunity] to put that knowledge to use in a safe environment to train and prepare in the event of a real scenario,” Johnson said.

“It is equally important for law enforcement as well as ambulance, hospital and our volunteer departments to train for incidents involving hazardous chemicals.”

Commissioners also gave Johnson approval to enter a contract with a company that specializes in planning and conducting hazardous material exercises.

“The county signed a professional services agreement with Lee Helms and Associates, who will bring people in to assist with the grant,” Johnson said. “The process of actually selecting a planning team will begin now. This group will decide what objectives we want to meet and begin planning the exercise based on capabilities, strategy and objectives.”

The cost of the contract is included in the grant money.

The grant expires in September, so the exercise must be planned and executed before then.