FULL-SCALE PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING EXERCISE TO TAKE PLACE FRIDAY MORNING IN GAYLESVILLE AND CEDAR BLUFF

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency will be conducting a full-scale training exercise this Friday morning (August 4th) at the Gaylesville 4-way, as well as Gaylesville School.

Numerous law enforcement agencies, fire departments, rescue squad, and EMS will be participating so there will be an increased presence of public safety personnel in the area until around noon.  Part of this exercise will take place at Gaylesville School and Cedar Bluff School so there will be no need for public alarm during this time.

Emergency Management personnel will be placing an overturned school bus in the parking lot of the Gaylesville Fire Department this afternoon in preparation for the exercise Friday morning.  Caution tape will be placed around the bus. Again, there is no need for the public to be alarmed.

At Gaylesville School, as part of the exercise, there will be a “law enforcement situation” and at Cedar Bluff School, as part of the exercise, two medical helicopters will be landing on the football field.

Director Shawn Rogers says, we want to make the public aware of this training exercise so when people see the emergency vehicles, emergency personnel, or the role players at the different locations it doesn’t cause panic or alarm for anyone.

Exercising our emergency response and operation plans is a very important part of the emergency management program. This allows us to identify our strengths and our weaknesses so we can make any necessary changes or adjustments.

Director Rogers says, we do this so we can better serve our citizens and those who visit Cherokee County. It is our goal to be able to respond to any emergency or disaster that may occur with the best training and necessary resources needed to do our job to the best of our ability.”