City to conduct Emergency Preparedness Exercise

WINNIPEG - May 22, 2007- The City of Winnipeg will be conducting an emergency preparedness exercise in the Westwood area of Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 23, 2007. The exercise will attempt to replicate a real-life disaster scenario, complete with the response of emergency personnel and the activation of the City’s Emergency Operations Centre.

In order to effectively manage and respond to a real event, it is crucial to regularly test emergency plans and response systems at all levels of the organization. A City-wide emergency preparedness exercise is conducted approximately every 18 months.

During the exercise, media and members of the public may witness emergency crews responding and actors portraying victims of the disaster. It is important to remember that this is only an exercise.

No disruptions to traffic will occur as a result of the exercise.