Emergency responders will be taking
part Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in an exercise that simulates a 6.8
magnitude earthquake in central Virginia.
At least 15 state agencies will take
part in the three day exercise, along with three universities, two hospitals, and
the counties of Augusta, Buckingham, Nelson, Montgomery, Pulaski and
Rockingham.
Much of Tuesday’s activity will originate
at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center in Richmond.
Then on Wednesday, public shelters for
the exercise will be opened at VMI’s Kilbourne Hall and Christopher Newport
University in Newport News. Actors will portray earthquake survivors. A pet
shelter will also be set up at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, using actors
and pets.
State officials say the three day exercise
will test coordination and communication between state and local officials and
will give the state a chance to evaluate the use of social media to communicate
emergency public information.
