UPDATED Jacksonville hospitals participate in Oct. 19 emergency drill

JACKSONVILLE — UT Health Jacksonville and CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Jacksonville will participate in a region-wide disaster exercise Thursday, Oct. 19, beginning about 8 a.m. The live-action drill will include several medical and long-term health facilities along with local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, amateur radio operators and area ambulance services.

The drill will simulate damage from a major weather event, testing the participants’ ability to respond to the emergency and coordinate assistance with other facilities and agencies. Some facilities, Jacksonville hospitals, will have college students on hand acting as victims to make the drill more realistic for the hospital staff.

The public should be aware that this event is only a drill and not a real emergency. However, during the event there likely will be an increased presence of emergency response vehicles and personnel in the area. All facilities will remain open to the public and available to accept both emergency and non-emergency patients during the drill.

Should a real, large-scale emergency occur during the exercise, the drill immediately will be canceled so staff may respond to the actual emergency.

The drill is one of many exercises required by both state and federal regulators to ensure the highest level of preparedness for patients and the community. It is the first disaster drill of this magnitude to take place since 2019.