SMYRNA, Del. –The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) in partnership with the Delaware State Police (DSP), Appoquinimink School District, public safety personnel, and regional and state partners, conducted a full-scale emergency response exercise in Odessa on Friday, March 28. The event underscored the importance of interagency coordination in ensuring a swift, effective, and unified response to emergencies, reinforcing Delaware’s commitment to school and community safety.
“This exercise was vital on multiple levels”, said DEMA Director A.J. Schall. “It gave all involved the opportunity to observe law enforcement response tactics, interaction with the fire service and EMS, and also allow the school to practice their crisis communication and recovery processes.”
The exercise tested the readiness of first responders and school officials in handling a simulated act of violence under real-world conditions. More than 500 participants from across Delaware worked together to enhance preparedness, focusing on coordination, communication, and response capabilities. The exercise aligned with FEMA’s National Preparedness Goal, emphasizing the importance of building and sustaining preparedness capabilities to prevent, respond to, and recover from threats and hazards that could impact the state.
“Schools play a vital role in not only educating students but also ensuring the safety of staff, students, and visitors”, said Joey Melvin, Executive Director of Delaware’s Comprehensive School Safety Program. “As part of Delaware’s commitment to school safety, conducting emergency exercises remains a key component of preparedness efforts statewide. These exercises provide critical insights, helping schools and emergency responders identify opportunities to strengthen policies, procedures, and best practices. By refining response strategies, Delaware’s schools are better equipped to mitigate risks and minimize the impact of potential incidents.”
This was the largest exercise put on by the agency, utilizing multiple locations across Odessa, and was the culmination of years of planning and coordination with partners.
“We are grateful to Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the Appoquinimink School District for including us in this valuable exercise, which provided hands-on training for all participants,” stated Colonel William D. Crotty, Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “These multi-agency drills are essential for strengthening coordination and communication among law enforcement, EMS, fire service, Delaware Department of Transportation, and education partners. Through collaboration, we continually enhance our collective readiness to respond to critical incidents and safeguard our communities. We look forward to future opportunities to enhance these partnerships and ensure the safety of everyone who lives, works, and visits Delaware.”
ABOUT DEMA
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is the lead state agency for coordination of comprehensive emergency preparedness, training, response, recovery, and mitigation services to save lives, protect Delaware’s economic base and reduce the impact of emergencies. DEMA is a division within the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) and authorized by Delaware Code.
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