Volunteers sought for emergency simulation

The Monroe County Local Emergency Planning Committee is coordinating an exercise on IU’s campus involving emergency response agencies in Monroe County and is seeking student volunteers.

The exercise will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 19, according to a press release.

Personnel from the IU Police Department, the Bloomington Police Department, the Bloomington Fire Department and the Bloomington Township Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team will be participating, IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said.

“(Volunteers can) expect to take part in a realistic situation,” Minger said. “It is mainly to give us training on coordinating different emergency response teams.”

Volunteers will not be put in any situations that put their safety at risk, Minger said, and there will be a meeting for volunteers before  the exercise. Anyone interested in signing up can contact Jessica Renn at Monroe County Emergency Management at 349-2533 or sign up online at www.btfire.org/LEPC-Volunteer.aspx.

Minger said there are many reasons to have such a large emergency exercise and explained the simulation is in part because it has been awhile since such a large exercise was on campus.

“We are always getting questions from students and parents about what happens,”  Minger said. “Now we can answer those questions with a lot more authority."