GREEN COVE SPRINGS —Clay County Emergency Management, the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Clay County Fire Rescue and surrounding partner agencies participated in their first realistic emergency training exercise on Wednesday, July 9.

The successful training drill —held at the Clay County Fairgrounds—included a live audience, and participants performed real-life scenarios for law enforcement and fire rescue teams. The event saw around 100 volunteers, with meals provided by the Salvation Army.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE

"Today, we were exercising and practicing plans,” said Timothy Devin, Emergency Management Director for Clay County. “We partnered with the sheriff's office, the fire department, emergency management, and several other players just to test if we had something that happened at a big venue and how we would respond to it. Whether it was a protest or mass casualty incident, something of that nature."

Sheriff Michelle Cook said the training consisted of two main parts. The first focused on the field force team's ability to maintain peace and keep parties separated during a protest, while the second dealt with active shooter scenarios. The second segment also required assistance from fire rescue teams to manage multiple “injured” individuals.

Many of the volunteers portrayed fake life-threatening and non-life-threatening injuries created by makeup artists.  The training also included the use of emergency vehicles, complete with sounds and sirens, to simulate an actual emergency response. 

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE

"Overall, it was a success in that we were able to exercise our capabilities and our equipment. What the exercise yesterday prepared us for is for the people that maybe come in and don't exercise it in a safe and appropriate way. There are some things that we now know we need to update or change a little bit, but overall, a great success," she said. 

District 1 Commissioner John Sgromolo echoed those sentiments, highlighting the event’s importance.

"Our Clay County Fire Rescue and Clay County Sheriff's Office have an unbelievable opportunity to practice a real-world scenario of a mass incident. The training that they're getting today is extremely valuable to keeping our community safe. I'm extremely proud of the hard work of our Sheriff's Office and Fire Rescue. Clay County is in extremely good hands," he said. 

Many of the volunteers portrayed fake life-threatening and non-life-threatening injuries created by makeup artists.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAY COUNTY FIRE RESCUE