IMPERIAL COUNTY, CA — On Thursday, May 21, local agencies will participate in a coordinated full-scale exercise (FSE) involving a simulated mass chemical exposure incident designed to assess and demonstrate a coordinated public safety response within Imperial County.  

Exercise activities will occur at various locations throughout Imperial County, with Pioneers Memorial Hospital serving as the primary operations location. The exercise is being coordinated by the Imperial County Public Health Department’s Emergency Medical Services Section in collaboration with partners from the healthcare, emergency response, fire service, law enforcement, education, and other sectors. 

The full-scale exercise will provide participating agencies with the opportunity to evaluate local emergency response systems, operational communications, patient management coordination, and interagency collaboration within a realistic training environment. Exercises such as these play a critical role in strengthening regional preparedness and enhancing coordination among response partners.

While specific details of the training scenario will remain confidential to preserve the realism of the exercise, organizers emphasize the importance of ongoing preparedness efforts, coordinated response planning, and effective communication among partner agencies. Information gathered during the exercise will help guide future training initiatives and further support the continuous improvement of emergency response operations. 

Community members may notice an increased presence of emergency personnel and emergency vehicles near participating facilities as agencies conduct the coordinated emergency preparedness exercise. The Imperial County Public Health Department and participating agencies appreciate the public’s support and cooperation as emergency personnel continue training efforts focused on protecting the health and safety of communities throughout Imperial County.