A number of local organizations will be training through a full scale exercise later this week. While some traffic around the exercise may be inevitable, the public is asked to avoid the area, if possible.
On Thursday, May 30, organizations such as City of Bismarck departments (including Police, Fire, CenCom and Administration), Bismarck Public Schools, Bismarck Rural Fire Department, Bismarck State College, Burleigh County, Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office, CHI St. Alexius Health, Metro Area Ambulance Service North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Parole, Probation & Pretrial Services, and Sanford Health will train on active shooter response. This exercise is designed to improve our community’s safety and preparedness and identify strengths and future needs.
“A real active shooter incident can become very complex, very quickly. In a matter of just a couple of minutes, this type of situation pulls hundreds of people from their day-to-day jobs and puts them into a very intentional, coordinated response with very high stakes,” said Bismarck Public Schools Safety Director Becky LaBella. “Training exercises where we can work with a number of community partners are extremely valuable for the people and organizations participating, but also for the people and families our community organizations serve.”
The full scale exercise will take place at Hughes Education Center, located at 806 North Washington Street in Bismarck. A large emergency responder presence will be in the area from 8 AM to 1 PM that day. The actual exercise will begin at 10 AM and conclude at noon. Firearms will be present and visible through a large portion of the exercise, but are expected to be limited to the area to the west of the Hughes Education Center and on the south side of the exercise area near Avenue D.
A number of roads at the perimeter of the training exercise will be temporarily blocked off:
- Anderson Street from Avenue C to West Avenue F
- West Avenue D from Washington Street to Anderson Street
- Raymond Street from West Avenue C to West Avenue D
- North Hannafin Street from West Avenue C to West Avenue D
- Mason Avenue