Emergency response drill to be held at University Place in Idaho Falls from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Aug. 9

The University of Idaho and Idaho State University will host a full-scale emergency preparedness and response exercise involving city, county and state agencies on Monday, Aug. 9, at University Place in Idaho Falls, at 1784 Science Center Drive.

The exercise is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and end around 3 p.m.

The emergency response drill will involve interagency collaboration, including a  large number of first responders to test emergency response systems and procedures during the mock disaster exercise. 

Exercise participants will include the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Idaho Falls Fire Department and their EMS personnel, Idaho State University Public Safety staff, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police 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," said Stephen Hayward, Eastern Region Training and Exercise Coordinator for the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security. "In an effort to keep the exercise as realistic as possible for the first responders, we are not releasing a great amount of detail about the scenario. We do not want members of the public unduly alarmed if they witness the event taking place."

During any response, including exercises, safety is the highest priority.  Since this exercise will occur during normal daytime campus operations, emergency vehicles participating in the exercise will strictly adhere to posted speed limits and will not be responding to the scene with active lights and sirens.  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.

The drill is funded by a grant awarded to the University of Idaho from the U.S. Department of Education’s program for Emergency Management in Higher Education, with additional expenses supplemented by a State Bureau of Homeland Security grant.

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