WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Responders Train For Attack On Jordan-Hare Stadium

Responders Train For Attack On Jordan-Hare Stadium

Imagine spending a Saturday afternoon at Jordan-Hare. You're watching the Auburn Tigers play, but then someone attacks the stadium. That's what officers from Auburn, Opelika and Lee County are learning to respond to.

Local, state and federal officers are keeping a close eye during game day at Jordan-Hare Stadium. It's not long before they lock down the campus.

"It's in response to a 'weapon of mass destruction' incident in the area involving Auburn University," said Patrick Aguillard, Emergency Response Training System.

Thankfully it's only a training exercise, but computer simulations are helping responders evaluate their emergency plans.

"They're sitting as if they were sitting in their units and in their offices. We're going to let a scenario unfold and see exactly who responds and how we respond. We'll critique that so we can go back, look at our plans, modify our plans and try to make it better," said Faith Aguillard, Lee County EMA director.

Even if it's just a simulation, moving resources into place isn't just point-and-click.

"That time is in real-time. They expend fuel. People do expend energy, so we do sensors on these systems like binoculars. Our firefighters can have their normal turn-out gear," said Patrick Aguillard.

Within the last two weeks, false threats were made on NFL stadiums. That has emergency planners even more thankful for this type of training.

"We started a six to nine month planning process, and it's kind of scary when hear in the news something going on that we're already prepared for. It makes us feel better because we're being proactive," Aguillard said.

Local officers will continue the disaster training Friday.  If an event like this were real, command posts would be immediately activated in Auburn and Opelika with responders working around the clock to keep you safe.