Cleveland, Ohio to host "First Responders Drill" Tuesday April 23rd 2013

As if there hasn’t been a massive number of “drills”, Cleveland is hosting a “First Responders Drill” tomorrow at Progressive Field. Be advised that if you are going to be in the area or live in the area, traffic will be congested and there will be sirens blaring. Here’s what they said it’s supposed to be:

Full-scale exercise • Progressive Field • Tuesday, April 23^rd from 8am – 4pm 

• Real life sights and sounds will accompany emergency vehicles and equipment
• Traffic delays are possible – one southbound lane of E. 9th in front of Progressive Field closed 8:30AM – 3:30PM
• Collaborative planning began months ago as part of an annual schedule to exercise emergency response; the exercise is NOT in response to recent events or an actual threat or situation
• No disruption to public safety services; please continue to report emergencies by dialing 9-1-1 and suspicious activity to 1-877-OHS-INTEL

THIS IS ONLY AN EXERCISE

The City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, in conjunction with the Cleveland Indians, will conduct a full-scale emergency response exercise on April 23, 2013.

Our thoughts remain with all of those affected by the tragic events across the country this week, and while our hearts are heavy, we recognize the importance of continuing our efforts to prepare ourselves and our community. This exercise, which will include the participation of several specialized emergency response units including the SWAT, Bomb and USAR (Urban Search and Rescue), was originally proposed more than six months ago. While this exercise is not being conducted in response to any actual threat or situation, recent events have only emphasized the importance of exhaustive training for emergency responders.