CISA conducts emergency response exercise in Pennsylvania

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently held a test of emergency response plans in Hershey, Pa., in conjunction with local and state organizations.

The test assessed tactical response and coordination to a complex and coordinated attack.

The exercise was in the planning stage for more than a year. It had multiple goals including integrating public sector emergency medical teams with on-site medical providers; managing crowds, including employees, guests, and patients; integrating on-site, off-duty uniformed law enforcement with responding, on-duty law enforcement; evacuation and shelter-in-place decisions; and integrating the private sector into the incident command structure.

Public messaging and family assistance plans were reviewed.

“CISA routinely partners with industry and government to plan and practice for a wide range of possible scenarios,” Brian Harrell, CISA assistant director for infrastructure security, said. “A full-scale exercise like this one represents an investment of time and energy by all participating groups and is one of the best ways to ensure we are collectively ready for anything.”

More than 350 participants and observers participated in this exercise. Security and first responder teams included Pennsylvania State Police, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey Fire Department, and Derry Township Police Department.