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Emergency Management personnel in Hamblen County, Knox County, Blount County and Sevier County, along with response agencies are conducting an emergency exercise through Thursday.

The public may notice emergency equipment and personnel participating as part of the exercise.

Participating agencies, include Participating agencies, include College Square Mall, Hamblen County Emergency Communications District (911), Hamblen County Sheriff Department, Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Management Agency, Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Medical Service, Morristown-Hamblen Hospital, Morristown Fire Department, Morristown Rescue Squad, Morristown Police Department, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (East), Tennessee Homeland Security, Wal-Mart, Walters State Community College Police Department, Walters State Public Safety Division.

They will conclude around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday July 13.

This event is the result of extensive, year-long planning efforts across all four counties, including over 50 officials.

The exercise is intended to test the ability of emergency management personnel to effectively conduct emergency operations in the case of a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional event. It will test the counties’ inter-agency coordination, interoperability, and communications functions.

With the support of the listed response agencies, District 2 Homeland Security, FEMA’s National Exercise Division, and many others, we expect this event to be very successful. Exercises like this help response efforts by allowing agencies to practice skills and identify potential areas for improvement.