APS, Arlington County to Hold Joint Emergency Exercise at Carlin Springs and Wakefield on Jan. 30

Arlington Public Schools and Arlington County will participate in a full-scale emergency response exercise on Fri, Jan. 30, from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carlin Springs Elementary School and Wakefield High School.

This is not a real emergency. This exercise is designed to evaluate and strengthen APS and Arlington County’s emergency response plans, communication protocols, and coordination efforts in a simulated school emergency.

During the exercise, you may observe increased activity around these schools, including the presence of emergency vehicles and personnel. This date was chosen because it is a grade preparation day and there is no school for students. The Wakefield Aquatics Center may be impacted by the exercise. Check the Aquatics website for any schedule changes.

Key Objectives of this Exercise:

• Assess the effectiveness of the APS Emergency Management Plan.
• Evaluate the activation and functionality of APS’s critical notification systems.
• Test the coordination and communication between APS, Arlington County first responders, and other agencies.
• Practice the execution of the APS Reunification Plan.

This exercise presents an important opportunity to enhance our ability to respond effectively to and recover from critical incidents. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we conduct this important exercise.