Letterkenny tests anti-terrorism response

CHAMBERSBURG -- Local first responders and Letterkenny Army Depot personnel will simulate terrorism incidents on Thursday morning at the maintenance depot in Greene Township.

The anti-terrorism exercise will cover several different scenarios at the same time, according to Janet Gardner, depot spokeswoman.

The event is closed to the media and to the public. Only authorized emergency management services, including Pennsylvania State Police, are authorized to attend the training exercise.

"This is one of those necessary tasks that we complete in order to ensure maximum force protection measures are in place to protect the depot's workforce, its assets and the surrounding community," Depot commander Colonel Deacon Maddox said.

The annual exercise is mandated by the Department of Defense, Gardner said. Depot workers, emergency responders and local and community emergency management services will test their response plans.

People may hear activity during the simulation on scanners that monitor fire and ambulance calls, according to Gardner. The simulation will be held solely on depot.

Last year, roads were closed near the depot for a training exercise that included an active shooter and a chemical release. Gardner, who did not disclose this year’s scenarios, said she did not know when the exercise will begin.

“It will all be over by noon,” she said.

Letterkenny Army Depot repairs and overhauls tactical missile systems, route clearance vehicles, material handling equipment and expeditionary sustainment systems. With more than 3,200 employees, the depot accounts for nearly 9 percent of Franklin County’s gross regional product and over 8 percent of the county’s employment base.

JIm Hook 717-262-4759