What:

A full-scale emergency exercise, including employee evacuation, will take place at the Cincinnati Mail Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC), 1591 Dalton Ave, on June 17, 2014, for the purpose of testing the Postal Service and the city of Cincinnati’s coordinated emergency preparedness response plans in the event of an actual biohazard alert.

The exercise will combine efforts with the Postal Inspection Service; Cincinnati Fire Department, US Inspection Service, Cincinnati Hazmat Unit Fire Prevention Bureau, Cincinnati Police Department, Ohio Emergency Management, Hamilton County Emergency Management Committee, Ohio State Police, FBI, Cincinnati Health Department, State Emergency Management, State Emergency Response Committee, Employee Assistance Program.

The emergency preparedness exercise is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. and last approximately three hours. This alert is provided to media editors in the event the public makes inquiries to media outlets regarding the exercise. We request the media’s assistance in advising the public that the exercise is scheduled to take place, and that it is only an exercise, not an actual emergency.

When:

Tuesday, June 17, 2014
10:00 a.m. until complete (approximately three hours)

NOTE: Retail services at the Cincinnati Main Post Office, 1623 Dalton Ave, will be closed from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Where:

Cincinnati Mail Processing & Distribution Center
1591 Dalton Ave
Cincinnati OH

Background:

The United States Postal Service is committed to keeping its employees and customers safe. Regular testing and evaluation of coordinated emergency response plans with local first responders greatly assist in this mission.

NOTE: This exercise is open to the media. Interested media representatives are asked to contact David G. Van Allen at 216-443-4596.