Falls Lake Exercise

9/11/2003

Wake County Emergency Management and the Wake County Sheriff's Office will be conducting joint emergency preparedness exercises at Falls Lake on Saturday, September 13, from approximately 1:30 p.m. until midnight. Citizens not involved in the events should be aware that these are simulated exercises, and that they do not need to call Raleigh/Wake 911.

The exercise will consist of three scenarios that will simulate boating incidents and others that could happen at any time on Falls Lake. The purpose of the exercise is to evaluate the capabilities of local emergency response agencies in providing emergency response services to incidents occurring on or in close proximity to the Lake.

The areas of operations for the exercise are: Scenarios #1 and #2 – that portion of Falls Lake from the dam to the N.C. 98 Bridge; and Scenario #3 -- that portion of Falls Lake from the dam to the N.C. 50 Bridge. Participants will meet at Bay Leaf Fire Station #1 at 1:30 p.m. to prepare.

The scenarios will test the response of fire, emergency medical service, law enforcement and other emergency management personnel.

This exercise is designed to highlight inter-agency operations, coordination and readiness. A thorough evaluation of the exercise will highlight areas that can be improved through further planning and training, and successful aspects that can be included in future response planning.

The objectives are:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of current operating procedures as applied to incidents occurring on or in close proximity to Falls Lake.
• To demonstrate the ability of participating agencies in conducting joint operations at incidents located on or in close proximity to Falls Lake, from the initial dispatch of the incident to the delivery of "victims" to the applicable loading area for transport to medical facilities.
• To ascertain suitability of communications at Falls Lake-area incidents.
• To highlight the usage and application of the Wake County Incident Command System.