If you were near North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville this (Wednesday) morning you may have noticed sights and sounds not part of the normal school day.
The signs lining GA 197 in front of the school campus let those passing by know that whatever they saw was part of a training exercise.
Agencies participated in active shooter scenario
Habersham County E-911/Emergency Management Agency, Habersham County Emergency Services, Habersham County Sheriff’s Office, and Clarkesville Fire Department participated, along with members of the campus community and North Georgia Technical College Police Department, in an active shooter scenario.
The Director of Habersham County E-911/EMA Lynn Smith said overall things went well during the event, for which planning began in September.
“They wanted to exercise just a campus response, so we tried to make it smaller where we could just involve them and not have a lot of outside resources coming in,” Smith said. “I think that overall, it went pretty well for it to be their first time. We had an active shooter who went into the dining hall and then out of the dining hall into another building. We had several victims. We did involve EMS and Fire and I think it went pretty well.”
After the training, personnel and college officials held a debriefing to discuss what went well and what could be improved for the future.
Expressed appreciation
NGTC President John Wilkinson expressed his appreciation to community partners as well as those on campus, for helping with his priority of maintaining the safety of students, staff, and faculty.
Smith said one challenge is common on most college and university campuses.
“I think they did really well,” Smith said. “I think that one of our challenges here, as they would be on any college campus, is identifying the buildings, knowing where you are, and getting people to the right places.”
Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security also was present
