What:

Full Scale Biohazard Detection System (BDS) Exercise (Drill)

Who:

USPS, Eureka Post Office, Postal Inspection Service, Eureka Fire Dept., Humboldt County Health Dept.

When:

Thursday, June 26, 2014, from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

MEDIA ALERT: The Emergency Drill will begin at 3:00 p.m. All employees, except window clerks and bulk mail unit employees will begin evacuation. After a roll call is conducted, employees will observe the decontamination process in the truck yard.

Where:

Eureka Post Office, 337 W. Clark St., Eureka CA  95501-9998

Background:

The Eureka Post Office has an early warning system called the Biohazard Detection System (BDS).  BDS is a technology that uses DNA analysis to detect the bacteria that causes anthrax in the collection mail stream with extremely high reliability.  It is part of the Postal Service’s commitment to keep employees, customers and the mail safe.

BDS is part of the Postal Service Emergency Preparedness Plan to satisfy compliance with Department of Homeland Security requirements on domestic emergency preparedness.

On Thursday, June 26, 2014, the Eureka Post Office will begin a full scale BDS exercise or drill, which will test the evacuation plans we have in place to respond to a real BDS alarm.  A full scale exercise requires the Postal Service to work with local emergency first responders, such as the Eureka Fire Dept., county public health and our postal inspectors. 

This will only be an exercise, which will include the evacuation of our employees in the post office. Postal customers will not be affected by the drill. The customer retail lobby and the Bulk Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) will remain open during the drill.