Who
Area news media are invited to attend and participate in a mock press conference as part of the exercise.

What
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) will facilitate a full-scale crisis response exercise. The purpose of the exercise is to test the effectiveness of Armuchee High School’s safety plan and the local, state and federal response to a shooting at the school. The exercise will require responders to perform actions associated with the initial response to a school shooting, including victim rescue, triage, site security and crowd control, and device recovery and packaging. Mock “victims” will be transported to area hospitals by helicopters and ambulances.

Participating agencies include GEMA, Northwest Georgia Health District, Rome-Floyd County Emergency Management Agency, Floyd County School System, Rome Fire Department, Floyd County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Redmond EMS, Floyd Medical Center, Redmond Park Regional Hospital, Floyd County Police Department, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Rome Police Department, Rome-Floyd County SWAT and 4th Civil Support Team.

When
8:30 a.m. – noon
Thursday, July 26, 2007

Where
Armuchee High School
4203 Martha Berry Highway
Rome, Georgia

Program
7:30 a.m. – registration
8:00 a.m. – safety briefing
8:30 a.m. – exercise begins
Interviews and mock press conferences will be held during the duration of the exercise at the Church at Northside across the street from the school.

Contact
GEMA Public Affairs Office at (404) 635-7000 or 1-800-TRY-GEMA for more information.

Media who are interested in supporting the exercise may contact Rome-Floyd County Emergency Management Agency Director Scotty Hancock at (706) 236-5002.

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Post Office Box 18055 - Atlanta, Georgia 30316-0055
Phone (404) 635-7000 or toll-free in Georgia 1-800-TRY-GEMA - Fax (404)635-7205
www.gema.state.ga.us
www.georgia911.org