School-Based Exercise - July 31, 2010

View Photos of the School-Based Exercise. (click "Slideshow" for best viewing)

On July 31^st a school-based crisis exercise was held at Southern Elementary School in Falmouth involving almost 190 people who volunteered their time to make this event happen. 

An extensive array of agencies took part in a scenario that created a life-threatening situation during a typical day at school. School organizations (Student Council, FCCLA) and a large amount of citizen volunteers playing the part of students, victims, parents and administrators added realism to the event. The joint efforts of all these individuals and organizations working and training together will help the school system and the region’s emergency response forces prepare for a violent situation. But the ultimate result of this intense drill and the cooperative efforts of all its participants is the protection of our most precious resource…our children. Agencies, departments and organizations that participated include the following: 

• Alexandria Police Department
• Butler Fire Department
• Cold Spring Police Department
• Falmouth Police Department
• Falmouth Fire Department
• Kentucky Division of Emergency Management
• Northern Kentucky Special Operations Group “SWAT” Team
• Northern Kentucky Amateur Radio Relay Organization
• Northern Pendleton Fire Department
• Northern Pendleton Ambulance Service
• Pendleton County Ambulance Service
• Pendleton County Animal Control
• Pendleton County Attorney
• Pendleton County Constable District 3
• Pendleton County Coroner’s Office
• Pendleton County E-911 Dispatch
• Pendleton County Emergency Management Agency
• Pendleton County Fiscal Court
• Pendleton County Office of the American Red Cross
• Pendleton County Road Department
• Pendleton County School System
• Pendleton County Sheriff’s Department
• Three Rivers Health Department

All of our volunteers from the community, Student Council and FCCLA provided the realism necessary to make this exercise a success. The Emergency Operations Center was staffed during the event and the Mobile Command Post manned by Tactical Dispatchers and HAM Radio Operators was deployed.

The training and experience gained on July 31^st was invaluable. It will be a tremendous help in making our community and our schools safer and better prepared to face the realities of today’s environment.