March 3, 2022
Emergency crews from Traill and Steele counties will participate in a training exercise Wednesday, March 9 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Mayville State University.
The exercise will simulate a full-scale emergency and involves an active threat scenario. The participating agencies include first responders, emergency crews and other stakeholders from the area including the fire departments from Mayville and Portland, West Traill Ambulance Service, Sanford Mayville, Sanford Hillsboro, the sheriff departments of Griggs, Steele and Traill Counties, Mayville State University and Traill County Emergency Management.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this exercise,” said Traill County Sheriff Steve Hunt. “All the participants will be faced with a high-pressure situation in a challenging environment. This is a great opportunity for our area teams to learn and grow their skillsets should these types of challenges be presented.”
Hunt stated that area residents, especially residents close to Mayville State University, likely will hear sirens and see emergency vehicles responding during the incident but shouldn’t be alarmed.
He also urged citizens to keep their distance from the university during the exercise.
"We are asking that area residents not be alarmed and that they keep their distance, just like in any other emergency situation, even if this is an exercise,” Hunt continued. “When we do a training exercise like this, it’s important for all participating groups to maintain their focus and learn as much as possible from the training. For the safety of both the public and our emergency crews, we need to ensure our crews have the space they need to actively respond during the exercise, as well as space for vehicles and other equipment.”
“These are great opportunities for our local emergency management teams to get experience in a stressful, demanding environment,” said Ben Gates, Steele County emergency manager and Traill County assistant emergency manager. “These are skills our teams may need someday.”