Residents around Armuchee High School may have heard alarming sounds this morning, but there’s no reason for alarm — it was only a drill.
A public safety exercise tested the readiness of emergency workers and school officials in the case of a real-life threat.
The safety exercise, which began about 7:30 a.m. and concluded about 1 p.m., also included some activity across the highway from the school at the Church at Northside.
“EMA has been working closely with all parties involved in the training exercise the past nine months,” said Scotty Hancock, EMA director. “In coordination with Floyd County public schools, state and local first responders, we feel this exercise will provide real-life training for our public safety sector, and, in turn, make this a safer community in which to live.”
The mock scenario has simulated a disgruntled mental patient coming into the school looking to shoot the principal. When he was told the principal was not available the pretend suspect then went on a rampage throughout the school. In the make-believe crisis several were "killed" and two bombs have gone off. Bomb squads and SWAT teams as well as other emergency and school officials are on hand dealing with the situation in the training exercise.
Shortly before 10 a.m. it was discovered that one of the mock bombs was a "dirty" bomb, so the Hazmat team got involved in dealing with the new "threat" as it would in a real crisis.
The dramatic drill is to help evaluate school safety plans and local emergency personnel and law enforcement readiness.
Safety plans, including drills mandated by Georgia law, are intended to curb a growing incidence of violence in schools.
School safety plans must also prepare for hazardous materials, natural disasters, acts of terrorism and modes of transportation. Funding is available from the state for security devices, but Georgia Emergency Management Agency coordinates the plans.
Click here to see a Google map of the location of Armuchee High School.
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Check back later to watch a video from the exercise.
