The Roane County Office of Emergency Services (OES), in partnership with Roane Medical Center, will host a significant emergency preparedness exercise on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Roane County Park in Harriman, TN. This event will simulate a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) resulting from a tornado striking the park, and will run from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The training is part of Roane County’s ongoing commitment to public safety and emergency readiness, providing a real-world simulation to test response capabilities in the event of a large-scale disaster. The exercise will involve numerous local and regional emergency agencies working collaboratively to respond to the scenario.
Event Details:
-
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
-
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
-
Location: Roane County Park, Harriman, TN
Participating Agencies Include:
-
Roane County Office of Emergency Services (OES)
-
Roane Medical Center
-
Rhea County EMS
-
Anderson County EMS
-
Cumberland County EMS
-
Life Star
-
West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department
-
South Roane County Volunteer Fire Department
-
Roane County Sheriff’s Department
-
Roane County Rescue Squad
Training Objectives:
This full-scale exercise will focus on several critical areas of emergency response:
-
Mass Casualty Management: Enhancing the ability of responders to quickly assess, triage, and provide care to a large number of injured individuals.
-
Search and Rescue Operations: Practicing safe and effective methods of locating and rescuing simulated victims in a disaster scenario.
-
Interagency Coordination: Improving the communication and cooperation between various responding agencies and organizations.
-
Evacuation Procedures: Testing the logistics and efficiency of moving victims to safe zones or medical facilities.
-
Crisis Communication: Evaluating communication strategies among responders, as well as with the public and media.
Public Notice:
Roane County residents should be aware that this is only a training event. There is no actual emergency, and the presence of emergency vehicles, helicopters, and personnel in and around the park is part of the exercise.
Additionally, Roane County Park will be closed to the public until 12:00 p.m. on April 16 to ensure the safety and success of the training exercise.
Why It Matters:
Training exercises like this are essential to maintaining a high level of preparedness among emergency response teams. By simulating a real-world disaster, responders can identify strengths and address areas for improvement – ultimately leading to faster, more effective action when real emergencies occur.
Roane County OES appreciates the cooperation of the public and the dedication of all participating agencies in making this event possible.