Emergency response drill scheduled at ISU on Oct. 9

An emergency response exercise involving city, county, and state agencies will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello.

Beginning at approximately 9 a.m. there will be an unusually large number of emergency personnel and vehicles in the vicinity of and on the ISU Pocatello campus, but the public should not be alarmed.

Exercise participants will include: Idaho State University, ISU Public Safety, Pocatello Police Department, Portneuf Medical Center, Bannock County Sheriffs Department, Idaho State Police, Pocatello Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services, Chubbuck Police Department, Chubbuck Fire Department, Bannock County Emergency Management and the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security.

“This exercise is being conducted to evaluate the capability of local response agencies and other essential partners to effectively respond to and manage a simulated incident of significance on the ISU campus,” said Stephen Hayward, regional training and exercise coordinator for the Eastern Region for the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security.

During any response, including exercises, SAFETY is a high priority, Hayward said. Since this exercise will occur during normal daytime campus operations, emergency vehicles participating in the exercise will adhere to posted speed limits and will not be responding to the scene with lights and sirens on. Once inside the exercise area however, emergency vehicle lights will be activated.  Also, areas where the exercise is taking place will be clearly marked with signs or will have safety personnel monitoring the event.

“In order to keep the drill as realistic as possible for the responders and other participants, we are not releasing a great amount of detail about the scenario,” Hayward said. “At the same time, we do not want members of the public unduly alarmed if they witness the event taking place.”

Contacts: Stephen Hayward, MEP, Regional Training and Exercise Coordinator Eastern Region, Bureau of Homeland Security, (208) 238-9113 or (208) 251-1154 (cell); Capt. Rick Capell, Pocatello Police Department Community Services, (208) 234-6114; Graham Garner, Idaho State University Director of University Relations, (208) 282-4407; or Ann Swanson, MHA, MSG, Marketing and Media Manager, Portneuf Medical Center, (208) 251-2768.