There will  be a lot of excitement around the University of Akron campus Wednesday afternoon into the early evening as the Summit County Emergency Management Agency conducts a county-wide emergency response exercise. Agency Administrator Valerie DeRose tells AkronNewsNow a hazardous materials event along with a bomb threat scenario will be staged at the College of Arts and Sciences building,the Knight Chemical building and InfoCision Stadium.

The events will be staged between 2pm and 8pm, and signs will be posted as well as announcements made that it is only an exercise. Many local emergency responders from Akron and across Summit County will be involved in the exercise.

News Release from the Summit County Emergency Management Agency

On Wednesday, May 9, 2012, between 2 and 8pm, the Summit County Emergency Management Agency, along with the Summit County Local Emergency Planning Committee and The University of Akron, will be conducting a county-wide emergency-response exercise. The public should not be alarmed by the presence of emergency vehicles, SWAT teams and bomb squads during this time.      

The activity will be centered on the College of Arts and Sciences building, Knight Chemical and InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field. Citizens who work in or near the University campus may hear announcements over the indoor and outdoor warning systems regarding the exercise. The announcements will note that this is an exercise.     

Since 2007, the University has reworked its emergency plan and increased its coordination with city, county and state safety forces. Several small exercises have been held on campus over the years; this will be the first large-scale event. This exercise is to test safety plans and response between public safety agencies.

Some of the local emergency responders that will be involved will be: Summit County Special Operations Response Team, Hazardous Materials Branch, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Summit County Bomb Squad, Summit County SWAT, Akron Police Department SWAT, Akron Fire Department, University of Akron Police and SWAT, Summit County Executive's Office, University of Akron Administration and City of Akron Administration, Summit County Department of Development-GIS, The Ohio Emergency Management Agency, The American Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region, FBI, Ohio State Highway Patrol.