Illinois State Police conduct emergency preparedness exercise in Springfield
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., (KBSI) — Illinois State Police conducted a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
The exercise, led by the agency’s Statewide Weapons of Mass Destruction Team, focused on improving coordination and emergency response efforts among local, state and federal agencies.
“The goal of this full-scale exercise was to test and evaluate the ability of law enforcement, fire services, and other partnering agencies to respond as a unified group during emergency situations,” Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said. “These preparedness exercises provide a no-fault learning environment to ensured we’re ready when a real-world crisis strikes.”
The training simulated a large public event that escalated into a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive threat. Participating agencies tested emergency response procedures, communication systems and coordination efforts while identifying areas for improvement.
The exercise also focused on providing emergency medical care to injured civilians and containing hazardous materials to prevent additional injuries or loss of life.
Participating agencies included the Illinois Secretary of State Police, Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, Springfield Fire Department, Illinois National Guard’s 5th Civil Support Team, FBI Springfield Field Office, Illinois Medical Emergency Response Team and Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Illinois State Police officials said the agency will continue working with local, state and federal partners to improve emergency preparedness and public safety.
