It’s being billed as one of the largest hospital emergency drills in Tennessee history. This morning, 54 organizations from throughout East Tennessee will participate in a mock disaster drill that will draw in hospitals, emergency responders and health departments from as far and wide as Chattanooga, Johnson City and Knoxville.
All four of Knoxville’s hospitals will participate, as well as approximately 1,000 victim actors. Many of the actors are Knox County schools students.
The exact nature of the mock disaster is a closely-guarded secret and could include anything from a mock explosion to a pandemic.
A release by the East Grand Division Healthcare Coalition says the drill will test the region’s hospital and surge plans, local and regional mass casualty incident plans and communication capabilities.