POWDER SCARE: Training Responders

Don’t be alarmed if you see police officers and firefighters swarming the capitol grounds Tuesday afternoon, it’s only a training exercise.

The Iowa National Guard, FBI, Homeland Security and Des Moines Fire Department are just a few of the agencies taking part in the drill centered on affectively responding to a powder scare.

It wasn’t a drill earlier this year when authorities responded to a real powder scare at the capitol.

State Representative Ado Abdul-Samad opened a powder filled envelope in early April during a debate in the Legislature.

The powder turned out to be harmless, but authorities at the capitol were criticized for mishandling the response to the powder scare.