The media is invited to view the drill in progress at the Stanislaus County Emergency Operations Center at 3705 Oakdale Road in Modesto, CA. If you are able to RSVP for this event please call (209) 558-5636. Please check in with the Public Information Officer when you arrive. Photo and interview opportunities are available.

Stanislaus County Public Health Officer, Dr. John Walker, says that this type of exercise is critical to keeping the county’s response system prepared. “We have put resources into training and preparing our emergency and public health services for this type of event. Participating in such a drill increases our ability to respond rapidly and keep the public as safe as possible.”

Many of the state’s emergency service agencies will be called into action during the drill including the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Mental Health. All California counties will also participate.

The response to this drill should also demonstrate the state government’s ability to work with emergency response centers throughout the state, access and transmit information rapidly to the public, ensure the integration of medical and health operations and coordinate laboratory activities. At the exercise’s conclusion, an evaluation will help determine areas that need improvement and highlight activities that are working well.