Appalachian to conduct full-scale emergency exercise May 16

BOONE, N.C.—Appalachian State University will conduct a full-scale emergency exercise in and around the Plemmons Student Union from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 16. The exercise will simulate an active shooter on campus, and is designed to test response and communication during an emergency.

The university’s emergency website – http://appstatealert.com – will post updates about the training exercise. While campus and local communities should be aware this is only a test, citizens who witness anything that raises suspicion or concern about their immediate safety should call 9-1-1.

Traffic near campus may be limited at times during the exercise, and one or more buildings may be involved in the exercise. Area residents and drivers will likely see law enforcement and emergency response vehicles and personnel along King, Hardin and Rivers Streets and in and around the Plemmons Student Union.

The training exercise will involve more than 100 participants, including those from University Police, Boone Fire Department, Watauga Emergency Medical Services, Watauga County Rescue Squad, Watauga Medical Center and local law enforcement agencies.

Participants will wear either a colored vest or arm band.

This is the fifth full-scale emergency exercise conducted at Appalachian. Prior training exercises simulated a shooter/hostage situation, explosive device scenario, a flood that affected campus operations and a chemical explosion.

The exercise is coordinated by Appalachian’s Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management (EHS&EM).

For questions about the exercise, prior to, during or afterward, call University Police at 828-262-2150.

About EHS&EM at Appalachian

The Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Emergency Management (EHS&EM) at Appalachian State University works in coordination with other departments across campus to build a safe and prepared campus in support of the university’s commitment to campus safety. The department’s primary responsibility is environmental health, safety and emergency management functions across campus. Learn more at https://ehsem.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

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