In case of an emergency

By Rosa Duarte

Published: June 25, 2008

Police officers, firefighters and EMS crews spring into action all in preparation for a tornado.
Wednesday afternoon, crews in Blacksburg participated in a training exercise behind the old Blacksburg Middle School. The department of Public Works helped out by dumping hundreds of pounds of debris and brush on the ground making it look like a true tornado hit. Local junkyards also donated wrecked cars that were tossed in the mess where volunteers were positioned as helpless victims, others were stuck in trees.
Lt. Joe Davis with Blacksburg Police says the training gives them the opportunity to unify their efforts with different departments, “The focus these days is being able to respond to things on a regional basis and be able to communicate regional so that enhances our capability to respond and deal incidences of this nature.”
Blacksburg Transit was also involved in the exercise transporting fake patients with minor injuries to safer areas. Officials say the town of Blacksburg does emergency training at least once a year.