Posted on 06/25/2003 12:14:41 PM PDT by chance33_98
Security Officials To Simulate Terror Attack Inside Alltel Stadium
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Domestic security officials will stage a full-scale terrorist attack in several locations across northeast Florida this morning in a large-scale test of the readiness of first responders.
"With the Super Bowl coming up in 2005 it's a good exercise to get with," Lt. Susan Bowen said.
According to the scenario, a well-funded terrorist group set up operations in Gainesville and Jacksonville in anticipation of the Super Bowl at Alltel Stadium in 2005.
The incident will simulate a chemical or biological attack inside the stadium, a related incident at JaxPort's Talleyrand docks, terrorists being surrounded at nearby Metropolitan Park, emergency medical care at Shands-Jacksonville and other area hospitals, and another cell being cornered at in a simulated urban area at Camp Blanding.
Emergency and law enforcement personnel from 13 counties, including 280 Jacksonville Sheriff's Officers, will be responding to the realistic attack.
Clearly this is an exercise in communications, coordination, and to see if we have adequate resources to handle an incident of this size," Bowen said.
Exercise planners said this morning the exercise begin "with a bang" just before 9 a.m.
Even though it is an exercise, responders were not told in advance what to expect.
The city has planned ahead to minimize confusion for those not involved with the drill. One hundred officers will secure the disaster area. Twenty traffic officers will be on duty to help navigate traffic and confusion. Signs will be posted to inform the public of what is going on.
More than 1,800 voluneters are inside Alltel stadium to simulate a crowd. Some volunteers will portray injured victims to test rescue response on site and at the area hospitals.
Planners of the drill said this will allow Jacksonville to find any weaknesses in its emergency response.
"This is not pass-fail training. It will be a method to assess what we need to become better suited to respond to an incident like this," Bowen said.
Gator Bowl Road near Alltel Stadium will be closed for a couple of hours, but officials are not expecting traffic to be bad in other areas of the city.
Kids Kampus will be open, but officials are asking people to approach the campus from the west via the Main Street or Acosta Bridges. The also warn that children may hear and see unusual things.
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