Chemical suits are far outside the usual dress code for MCI employees, but this week the company’s Ashburn headquarters is swarming with futuristically attired employees participating in a hazardous materials emergency response drill. The telecommunications company’s Emergency Response Incident Team (MERIT) is made up of 32 MCI employees from around the country, trained to repair damage to MCI’s communications equipment and network in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist attack or large-scale accident. Twice a year, the team conducts a training exercise to test members’ ability to respond to different emergency scenarios. This drill — the team’s first at the MCI headquarters in Ashburn — centered on the scenario of a fire that sends chemical gases into the air and forces all MCI employees to evacuate the premises. Full Story