COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (Aug. 4, 2008) — Though rare, recent violent incidents on college campuses, churches and other public venues have raised awareness of the importance of fast and effective emergency response from police, fire, medical and other critical personnel.

To prepare for responding to a similar type of event in this area, local emergency planning officials are working with Tennessee Tech University to stage a mock crisis response exercise on the campus Aug. 12. The mock exercise will involve real-time reactions to a staged emergency scenario.

The mock exercise is scheduled to begin in the morning of Aug. 12 on the northeast section of campus surrounding Johnson Hall. Community and campus personnel are encouraged to avoid the vicinity if possible for most of the morning.

The exercise is being announced publicly to avoid frustration, panic and confusion in the community and on the campus. Emergency responders may react with sirens as if it were an actual emergency. TTU officials will activate and test emergency communications tools for the campus.

Details of the drill, including the specific crisis scenario to which emergency personnel will respond, will not be revealed in advance — even to the emergency personnel.

“We want to evaluate our true response to a situation,” said Captain Nathan Honeycutt of the Cookeville Police Department and one of the mock exercise planners. “And though we want to make this as real a scenario as possible, we want to be safe while we do it.” That means no live ammunition will be allowed during the exercise, and the community is notified in advance to avoid panic.

All emergency communication announcements should begin with the phrase “This is an emergency response drill…”

The mock exercise will conclude in the early afternoon of Aug. 12 and be followed by review and debriefings. For more information, contact the Cookeville Police Department at 526-2125 or TTU Public Affairs at 372-3214.

--Monica Greppin
This information posted 5 August 2008