Today@Sam Article

Full-Scale Exercise To Mirror Actual Emergency Event

August 3, 2018
SHSU Media Contact: Wes Hamilton

Emergency personnel from Sam Houston State University and Walker County will hold a full-scale exercise on Thursday, August 9, at 9 a.m. CST on the SHSU campus. Designed to simulate an actual emergency, the goal of the exercise is to evaluate and improve emergency response plans.

Because of the magnitude of the drill, SHSU officials want to stress to university students, faculty and staff and residents of Huntsville and the surrounding areas that the exercise is only a drill and not to be alarmed by road closures or an increased presence in fire and medical personnel near the university. 

According to David Yebra, SHSU emergency management coordinator, “A large scale drill of this magnitude is extremely important to test local and regional response systems. The intrinsic value is not only in the process, but through the actual lessons learned through planning and participation.”

This type of training is essential as it allows area first responders to rehearse response operations and improve coordination throughout the region with university, city and county officials.

More than 75 participants will be involved in the exercise. Participants include SHSU Police Department, SHSU Office of Emergency Management, Huntsville Police Department, Huntsville Memorial Hospital, Huntsville Independent School District, Walker County EMS and the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

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