Emergency Services Sounds a Practice Evacuation Drill

If you heard evacuation instructions over a PA system near Dominican this morning, don’t worry. It was a practice drill.

From 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the Dominican Black Canyon Neighborhood Association and the Office of Emergency Services conducted the first neighborhood evacuation exercise.

Residents in the area received calls from the Telephone Emergency Notification System announcing that there was a threatening wild land fire near China Camp. Neighbors went to the evacuation center at Trinity Community Church on Grand Avenue. Police officers also drove around the neighborhood giving instructions on a PA system.

“Participation is voluntary,” Emergency Service Manager Steven Hancock said, “but for us to truly evaluate this drill and our collective ability to safely and efficiently evacuate an area during an emergency, we need everyone’s participation.”