New Canaan Emergency Management Holds Town Operations Exercise

Information via the town of New Canaan

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan Emergency Management hosted a two-day course on emergency operations center operations and planning this week at Grace Farms.

According to a news release provided by the town, the course was conducted by Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The course placed specific emphasis on the planning, resources and information management called for during a town wide emergency or disaster.

Leadership from New Canaan town government, public safety, public schools, private schools and non-governmental organizations, including the Voices Foundation Center for Resilience, all participated in the course with a simulated mock disaster and a full Emergency Operations Center activation.

Leadership from Wilton and Westport's emergency operations teams also participated. Program costs are covered by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.

"It is extraordinary to have so many of our local Government and non-government partners, who would be the key decision makers in a real emergency, together to train for a simulated emergency response," New Canaan Emergency Management Director Russ Kimes said in a news release. "It was a huge turnout of a broad mix of disciplines with many lessons learned to better serve our community. It was a great success, and we are tremendously grateful to Grace Farms and FEMA/TEEX for enabling this exercise."