May 23, 2013
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would provide funding for protective gas mask-like hoods for 35,000 county residents living near the Army's chemical weapons incinerator.
But Calhoun County EMA spokesman Brian Lazenby said there are concerns yet to be addressed, such as inadequate protection for area school children and special needs residents and outdated toxicity data.
The Army is planning to start testing the destruction of chemical agents on Oct. 11. Lazenby said it would take at least six months before his agency could distribute protective hoods and have all safety precautions in place.
