The Piedmont College R.H. Daniel School of Nursing & Health Sciences along with area emergency agencies will hold a disaster drill at 10 a.m., March 28, at the college in Demorest.
Assistant Professor Karen Greilich said the drill will include about 100 juniors in the R.H. Daniel School of Nursing & Health Sciences from the Demorest and Athens campuses, who will play the role of victims, and about 70 seniors who will be called on to respond. The annual disaster drill scenario will involve a tornado and problems with downed power lines and electrical transformers.
It will be staged near the near the Arrendale Amphitheater on College Drive.
Piedmont Police Chief Marie Taylor said agencies involved in this year’s drill include the City of Demorest Police and Fire departments, Habersham County Medical Center and EMS, Habersham County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, 911/Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, Homeland Security, Habersham Search and Rescue and the District Two Public Health Administration. A helicopter, drones and rescue dogs will participate in this year’s drill.
Greilich said members of the Piedmont Theatre Department will assist with realistic makeup and pyrotechnics for the drill, and students from the Mass Communications Department will simulate a press response. In all, more than 300 will participate in the drill, and more than 100 are expected to spectate.
“We want to make it a very realistic event so that it will be beneficial for all of the agencies involved,” she said. “Each year, our campus community and area emergency response personnel come together to create this incredible real-world learning experience for our students.”
Those wishing to view the drill may do so from a grassy knoll area adjacent to the Amphitheater. Public parking and road access near amphitheater will be limited. Those wishing to view the drill should park near the Mize Center or in the core campus area.
