Oak Lawn Police And Fire Plan Full Scale Training Exercise

OAK LAWN, IL -- Oak Lawn’s police and fire departments along with other area agencies are preparing for full-scale exercise involving the Oak Lawn Metra Station and Advocate Christ Medical Center on Sunday, Sept. 23. Between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., residents can expect to see a lot of emergency vehicles and hear some explosions, which are part of the exercise.

By holding the exercise on a Sunday, police can conduct this important drill without interfering with weekday commuter trains. Please note the following closures:

• Beginning Saturday (22 September) at 12 PM, the Metra Parking Garage will be closed and will remain closed until 2 PM on Sunday (23 September).

• On Sunday (23 September) during the hours of 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM 52nd Avenue, 51st Avenue, Tulley Avenue, and Museum Drive between 95th Street and 96th Street will be closed. The Metra Commuter lot north of 95th St. will also be closed to the public.

• Residents who live on 51st Street south of 95th Street will still be able to get to and from their homes. Because of traffic, due to large vehicles used during the drill, residens are encouraged to park in your driveways, instead of on the street.

• Residents will see a large number of emergency vehicles and equipment such as ambulances, fire trucks, and squad cars in the vicinity of the Oak Lawn Metra Station and Advocate Christ Medical Center. Motorists can expect to see flashing lights from the emergency vehicles, but sirens will not be activated to keep the noise disturbance to a minimum.

• Between 10 to 10:15 a.m., residents may see or hear a simulated explosion and gunfire, as well as role players with simulated injuries. Don’t be alarmed, this is only a drill.
• For their own safety, residents and gapers are asked to avoid the area around the Oak Lawn Metra Stations and Advocate Christ.

This full-scale exercise is part of Village of Oak Lawn’s commitment to the safety and security of our community. By training and preparing for emergency situations, Oak Lawn and other surrounding communities can have a more timely and efficient response to , and minimize the loss of life or injuries.

“We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience as a result of this drill, and we thank residents for their understanding and continued support to keep our community safe,” Cmdr. Arthur Clark said.

Questions or concerns may be addressed with Cmdr. Clark, coordinator of the Oak Lawn Emergency Management Agency at: 708-636-5141 or aclark@oaklawn-il.gov

~Image via the Village of Oak Lawn