Police, EMS to participate in WISD drill
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Officers from three law enforcement agencies will descend on Wharton High School Friday as part of an emergency response drill.

Conducted by the city's Office of Emergency Management, the exercise will involve police, paramedics, hospital staff, school officials and even a handful of students, all of whom will "react" to a simulated emergency.

"It's mainly for school districts and first responders to practice our plans," said Jim Cooper, the city's emergency management coordinator.

The details of the emergency are not being released, but Cooper said it will be a significant event, one that will require massive coordination on the part of area emergency responders.

Agencies that will take part include Wharton ISD, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Wharton Police Department, Wharton EMS, the Wharton fire department, the Wharton County Sheriff's Department and the OEM staff. The Rosenberg Police Department is also scheduled to participate.

Each agency will have particular goals it hopes to meet through the ex- ercise. The police department, for example, will be able to practice its school emergency training techniques, Cooper said.

And the school district will be able to put its Crisis Management Plan into effect.

Coordination between the agencies will be put to the test, said county emergency management coordinator Andy Kirkland.

"There's so much communication that is involved in this thing," he said. "It's a learning tool."

The drill was spawned out of a recent "tabletop" exercise during which a comprehensive plan was developed.

"Now after more hard work and planning by the group, we are going to test that plan," Cooper said.

Friday was chosen intentionally because it's only a half day for students.

The drill is not designed for student participation, but rather to test the plans of school administration, Cooper said.

A handful of students, however, will take part.

They will represent members of the media and parents who are trying to get information on the incident.

Teachers will take the role of students and victims.

Several dozen volunteers will participate.

The drill will last two to three hours. It is scheduled to begin around 1 p.m. Friday. Streets around the high school will be closed during the event.

Cooper asked the public to please be considerate when encountering road closures.

He also reminded area residents that this is a planned exercise.

"Please do not be alarmed at the amount of first responders in the area as it is only a drill," he said.