Crews practice response to Mt. Baker eruption

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Photo: KGMI/Dave Walker

KGMI News

BLAINE, Wash. – The U.S. and Canada will test their cooperation in case of a major Whatcom County natural disaster.

John Gargett with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management said the exercise will take place Monday and Thursday.

“We’re using a scenario of a lahar off the side of Mt. Baker; in other words, if Mt. Baker were to erupt, there’d be a big mud flow,” Gargett said. “That mudflow historically went down the Nooksack then up into Sumas and into Canada.”

Gargett says first responders and emergency mangement agencies from Whatcom County, Abbotsford and Langley, B.C. and border agents from both countries will be working together on an emergency response.

People throughout Whatcom County may see response equipment and personnel during the experiment.

Gargett said the agencies will be using emerging technology to aid their work.

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