050219 Press Release - Denton Disaster Exercise News Release (May 2019) UNT
UNIVERSITY CITY'
OF
OF NORTH TEXAS' DENTON
EST.1890
Media Contact Information:
Ryan Adams, City of Denton Deputy Director of Public Affairs
Phone: (940) 349-8565 • Email: Ryan.Adams(@cityofdenton.com
Leigh Anne Gullett, UNT Associate Director of News
Phone: (210) 259-7865 • Email: Leigh.Gullett(cDunt.edu
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Denton and UNT Partner to Conduct Full-Scale
Disaster Exercise on Friday, May 3
Denton, TX (May 2, 2019) —The City of Denton and the University of North Texas (UNT) are
collaborating to conduct a full-scale disaster exercise on Friday, May 3, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. at UNT Apogee Stadium and Discovery Park. The exercise — named "Operation
Thunderstruck" —will simulate a large-scale disaster to test the response capabilities and
emergency operations of first responders, hospitals, and other agencies.
Annual Drill to Evaluate Crisis Plan and Response
The City of Denton engages in a full-scale disaster exercise each year to evaluate current
response concepts, plans, and capabilities, and test response systems for strengths and
needed improvements. Departments and agencies participating in the full-scale disaster drill
include: City of Denton public safety departments, UNT Risk Management, Denton County, the
National Weather Service, FEMA Region 6, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas
Department of Public Safety, Atrium Medical Center, Medical City Denton, Texas Health
Presbyterian Hospital of Denton, The Heart Hospital — Baylor Denton, Wise Health Surgical
Hospital in Argyle, and other regional police and fire departments providing mutual aid.
"The annual disaster drill is an excellent way to test our emergency response capacity and
capabilities," said Denton Fire Chief Kenneth Hedges. "It is important to ensure that we are
prepared and ready to respond to the needs of the community. We are also thankful that our
community partners, like UNT and local hospitals,join us in working together to help protect the
citizens of Denton."
Drill Components
Planned over the course of several months, the exercise will simulate a severe weather and
tornado event impacting both Apogee Stadium and Discovery Park. It will involve simulated
storm impacts, including victims and casualties, and evaluate the aspects of the response
provided by and coordination between UNT, the City of Denton, and other emergency response
partners.
Due to the locations of the exercise, members of the public are likely to see a significant police
and fire presence at Apogee Stadium between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, May 3. This
presence will involve personnel from multiple jurisdictions and include the use of aerial
equipment such as helicopters and small unmanned aircraft systems (drones). The City of
Denton will be notifying the public of the disaster exercise through its social media channels
and, for residents who live near the two exercise sites, the CodeRED alert system.
Visit www.citvofdenton.com for more news and to stay updated.