By Ginger Kozlowski
Editor

Hooksett Fire Chief Michael Williams, right, and Capt. Fred Deveau look for information about the white powder they discovered in the “terrorist” van during the training drill. Hooksett police Lt. Les McDaniel said the exercise tested communication between the police and fire departments. (The Hooksett Banner/Bruce Preston)

If one didn’t know better, one would have thought something was very wrong at the wastewater treatment plant in Hooksett on Thursday, Sept. 28.

Police, fire and emergency workers in gas masks descended upon the plant, working to “save” those playing victims of an attack.

This exercise trained workers how to deal with “weapons of mass destruction.” In the scenario, terrorists in a van had a dirty bomb and a white powder and crashed into an empty school bus while driving up Egawes Drive. Even the police dog got a workout chasing a runaway “terrorist.”

Lt. Les McDaniel said the exercise, which included a lockdown of Hooksett Memorial School, was a success.

“As an observer, I was very impressed with the ability of the officers.”