City of Columbia Missouri

P.O. BOX 6015
COLUMBIA, MO 65205

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 16, 2016

CONTACT: Steven Sapp, Community Relations - City of Columbia MO
(573) 874-7257

Public Safety Agencies to Practice Preparedness for an Active Assailant Event

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

One of the most important things public safety can do is be prepared ahead of any emergency. That is why Boone County Emergency Management is coordinating a full scale active assailant exercise on Monday, Nov. 21 from 2 to 8 p.m. in two locations in Boone County.

The first exercise will take place on the University of Missouri Campus at Laws Hall at the corner of Tiger Avenue and Kentucky Boulevard between 2 and 4 p.m..

The second exercise will take place at the Southern Boone County R-1 Elementary School, 809 Henry Clay Blvd, in Ashland between 6 and 8 p.m..

The objectives of the exercise include -

  •         Evaluate local response agencies' ability to establish initial command and coordinate on-site incident management operations during an active assailant incident.

  •         Evaluate local response agencies' ability to establish multi-agency and multi-jurisdictional communications and interoperability during an active assailant incident.

  •         Evaluate local response agencies' ability to effectively triage, treat and transport all people in need within the affected area during an active assailant incident.

  •         Evaluate local response agencies' ability to develop and deliver coordinated information to the whole community, including the public, the media, incident management, and responders across all jurisdictions and disciplines effectively during an active assailant incident.

Local law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services and emergency management will all participate in the exercises.

"These type of exercises, where agencies operate as if the event was occurring in real time, are invaluable learning tools," said Boone County Emergency Management Director Terry Cassil. "While we hope we are never put to the real test, we must be prepared for any type of scenario which could occur."

Students on campus, motorist and pedestrians in the area of the exercises should expect to see a number of emergency services operating as if the exercise was a real time incident.

We're asking all of our media partners to share this information as widely as possible to help in notifying the public that these are exercises and there is no need to call 9-1-1 or take other actions.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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