Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center will be bustling with activity Thursday morning as medical personnel partner with area emergency responders to conduct an active-shooter drill.
The exercise reportedly will simulate, as much as possible, an active-shooter response from local law enforcement, fire departments and emergency-medical-services personnel.
Officials say the morning will be very realistic with loud commands, alarms, sirens and evacuations.
The important part of conducting this type of drill is being "prepared for that type of situation," said Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers.
Also important, he said, is for the community to "be aware we are conducting a drill so there is no undue concern if they are visiting the hospital that day" or see "a large number of law enforcement vehicles at the hospital."
The idea for this community active-shooter drill, according to Myers, arose from hospital personnel.
"We do drills periodically," said Dawn Carrier, PBRMC marketing director and community relations. "... Everything that is going on at the Chicago Hospital, Mercy, we just wanted to ensure that our facility is well prepared in the event of an active shooter."
In November, four people reportedly were killed at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center in Chicago. The shooting began in a hospital parking lot as part of an apparent domestic dispute between the shooter and an emergency room doctor. Both were among the dead.
Poplar Bluff Regional's drill, Myers said, will include "community partners, first responders in particular, (and) also other health care providers."
Personnel from Poplar Bluff's police and fire departments, Butler County Sheriff's Department and Missouri State Highway Patrol will participate, as will members of the Southeast Missouri Regional Healthcare Coalition.
Myers said the coalition is comprised of providers from throughout the region who "might have some roles to do" and will be "prepared for different types of emergency situations."
Emergency responders, Myers said, are "happy to work" with the medical community.
"Whether it is an active-shooter drill or an earthquake or a tornado, there are a lot of similarities in preparation and in the response," Myers explained. "One of the greatest things all of us, whether the first-responder community or others involved in these types of situations, is having good communication."
Myers said communication, whether is it done with radios or other methods, will be one of the areas tested Thursday to see how well that works in a drill such as this.
"Some of the most valuable things we learn in any type of emergency drill is discovering what gaps might exist" and then figuring "out a way to eliminate those gaps," Myers said.
Those participating in the drill, he said, will meet for a briefing Thursday morning during which time the scenario will be laid out.
"Then, we will make sure there is a simulation of a large sound" to indicate the drill is underway, said Myers.
Signs will be posted, and people in yellow vests will help people recognize this is a drill, Myers said.
The drill ends at noon.
"We will follow up, I'm sure, with another drill," Carrier said. "This (one) is just to be sure we're prepared."
Hospital personnel, Carrier emphasized are "doing our best" to make sure area schools, law enforcement, EMS and fire personnel are aware it is a drill. Postings have been made on Facebook, she said.
Carrier said everything is being done to ensure the hospital's patients and visitors are "fully aware that day" of what is going on.
"Our intent is not to scare or cause mayhem, but to make sure we can take care of our community," Carrier said.
Patients, she said, will not be impacted by the drill.
Although evacuations are planned, "it is all going to be volunteers and staff" involved in the drill, Carrier said. "No patients will be involved."