Franklin County Commissioners will participate in the Franklin County Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Exercise. This will be the largest full-scale exercise ever conducted in Franklin County.

A full-scale exercise means that there will be volunteers and actors playing out parts of the exercise while actual police, fire and specialty response teams (such as the bomb squad and tactical units) respond as if it were a true incident. The “injured” volunteers will then be transported to area hospitals for treatment which will allow the hospitals to test their response plans as well.

Area residents are asked to stay clear of the exercise areas that day. All areas will be clearly marked with signage that says "This is an Exercise” or “Training in Progress” to help alleviate any unnecessary panic in area residents.

This exercise is evidence of the growing public safety partnership between local, State, and Federal jurisdictions in response to the constant threat of CBRNE weapons of mass destruction terrorism that our Nation and communities face.