The full-scale exercise, to be held Wednesday, will test the resources and cooperation among public safety agencies in Lynchburg and in Amherst, Bedford, and Campbell counties. Liberty University campus police and the Virginia State Police also will be involved.
The training scenario will start at the old Liberty Christian Academy at 701 Thomas Road. Armed gunmen will take control of the school at the same time that another set of gunmen will take over the Falwell Aviation hanger at Lynchburg Regional Airport.
Set-up for the drill begins at 7 a.m., with the actual exercise starting at 9 a.m. and running into the late afternoon.
Thomas Road will be closed between McCausland Street and Perrymont Avenue. Residents in that area have received notices about the drill.
Since both hostage situations will happen simultaneously, officers from surrounding counties will be called in to help.
All officers will be checked twice before entering the scene so there is no live ammunition involved that would be a safety concern for the participants.
More than 300 people will participate in the drill, some monitoring safety, others responding to the emergency and volunteers playing the role of victims and hostages.
Officers will simulate a neighborhood evacuation and open the Salvation Army’s shelter with the help of the American Red Cross. Lynchburg General and Virginia Baptist hospitals also will be involved.
The drill was planned through CRA Inc., an agency that provides homeland security consulting, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
It’s not a mandatory training, but it is highly recommended by state and federal authorities.
While the drill will use a lot of public safety resources, the city patrol staff will be sufficient to cover the day-to-day calls. The exercise is being held on a day that is typically reserved for training.