Emergency drills planned April 24

Two local communities will host emergency drills on April 24.

Rusk High School will present a mock accident scene in front of the high school parking lot as part of a “Shattered Dreams” on Thursday morning. 

This staged accident serves as a teaching tool for high school juniors and seniors, using local emergency responders to create the scenario, said organizers.

In Jacksonville, the Historic Tomato Bowl is the setting of a Thursday morning disaster preparedness exercise conducted from approximately 9 a.m. to noon by the Cherokee County Planning Committee.

According to organizers, the event “is designed to test and improve emergency response capabilities for natural or man-made disasters. It will include simulated mass casualty scenario and involve multiple agencies. It is important to note that this is only a planned exercise – there is no real emergency. Please do not be alarmed by the activity.”

While the Rusk school drill is limited to the high school campus, the Jacksonville drill will encompass the area in and around the stadium, including side streets, with temporary road closures and detours set up.
Those with questions or concerns about the drill in Jacksonville may contact Alicia Whetsell, 903-590-0559; Karen Adams, 903-721-8856; Keith Martin, 903-574-8000; or Bill Avera, 903-721-9016.