Training Exercise in Clarksville at Governor's Square Mall

There will be a full-scale crisis response training exercise at Governor’s Square Mall, 2801 Wilma Rudolph Blvd, Clarksville, Tenn., on November, 10, 2009.

The start time for the exercise will be around 3:30 a.m. and conclude around 7 a.m.

There will be an opportunity for the media to observe some of the operational portion of the exercise.

Media should contact Jim Knoll, CPD, 931-320-2549 for information on observing the exercise.

Activity around the mall area during the exercise will include the operation of emergency equipment and movement of emergency personnel onsite. There will be no disruption in traffic flow or activities during the time of the exercise. The mall will open at its normally scheduled time.

Governor Square Mall’s Management offered their facility to enable the City of Clarksville and Montgomery County emergency personnel and the staff at Gateway Medical Center to exercise, evaluate, and coordinate a multi-agency response to a critical incident situation.  There will be a many challenges offered to responding personnel. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee Department of Safety will also be observing and participating in the exercise.

The exercise will be a scenario which involves “Black Friday” at the Mall.  As the scenario evolves, it will involve emergency personnel interacting with a large group of role players that mimics a holiday shopping crowd exposed to a situation resulting in injuries and possible fatalities.  The emergency personnel will have to diffuse the critical incident as well evacuating personnel and dealing with the aftermath on scene and at the Gateway Medical Center.