The Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF), Georgia State Patrol, Macon-Bibb Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Macon-Bibb Fire Department, and Bibb County Sheriff’s Office will be conducing a disaster training exercise on Saturday, October 7 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Jennifer Drive area near the Shriner’s Park (222 Mecca Drive).

The training will involve a simulated evacuation, search and rescue operations, helicopter take offs and landings, and interagency communications, and residents and people in the area can expect to see military and law enforcement activity, as well as low-flying helicopters. People in the area may see activity Friday afternoon and Sunday as the group sets up and breaks down. The actual training will be Saturday.

“This is a chance for our agencies to practice our response efforts together before we ever have need of them,” says Specialist Kerry Hatcher with the GSDF. “It’s simulations like this that allow us to work better together should our community be hit with a natural disaster, much like we did for Tropical Storm Irma.”

Planning for this exercise began nearly a year ago, and the GSDF and partners have met with all of the residents in the area to make them aware of what will be occurring. Residents will be able to travel to and from their homes, and several people have agreed to volunteer as role players in the exercise.”

“We want to thank all the people we’ve met with; they’ve been very understanding and supportive of this exercise, and I’m pleased they were willing to participate,” says SPC Hatcher. “With role players, we can better test how our efforts are received.”

About the Georgia State Defense Force

The Georgia State Defense Force is an auxiliary unit of the Georgia Department of Defense, serving in support of the national and state constitutions under direction of the Governor and the Adjutant General of Georgia. To learn more about the GSDF visit www.gasdf.com.