Exercise helps get responders on the same page for drill and real disasters
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – When a disaster strikes, having all of the responding agencies on the same page is crucial. That was the goal of a meeting today in Columbus.
Law enforcement, firefighters, medical responders, and Lowndes County Emergency Management came together to work out plans ahead of a full-scale disaster exercise next week.
That drill will simulate a tornado touching down on the Mississippi University for Women campus, an event that is not too far-fetched, having happened about 25 years ago.
Having tabletop exercises like the one today helps to spot issues ahead of the drill, and ahead of any possible disaster.
“Everybody is participating in this exercise, all emergency responders are participating in this exercise. If they have issues with their plans, they can change their plans. Any gaps in the plan, they can go back and re-write the plan and know that in a real world event if something happens, we are ready for any event that happens in Lowndes County.”
The disaster drill will be next Thursday on the MUW campus. If you happen to be in the area that morning, be aware there will be a large presence of emergency vehiicles and tornado sirens on campus will sound around 8:05.
