Tennessee Military Department to conduct one of the largest statewide disaster exercises in state history

A soldier stands in formation in front of the American flag during a deployment ceremony at the Tennessee National Guard Headquarters in Chattanooga, Tenn.
A soldier stands in formation in front of the American flag during a deployment ceremony at the Tennessee National Guard Headquarters in Chattanooga, Tenn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Military Department says it plans to conduct one of the largest statewide disaster preparedness exercises in its history.

The department says the exercise planned for this upcoming week will involve more than 50 Army and Air National Guard units training alongside fire departments, law enforcement agencies, paramedics, and other emergency organizations. Participants will practice responding to disaster scenarios.

Exercise activities in Memphis will occur Monday through Thursday. They are based on the catastrophic New Madrid Fault line earthquake scenario. Officials will establish command at Memphis International Airport and coordinate aftermath events of a disastrous earthquake.

The public can observe one of the disaster drill events outside the Shelby County Office of Preparedness' emergency operations center on Wednesday.

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