Officials To Test Quake Response In San Francisco Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Emergency operation centers in the San Francisco Bay Area are getting ready for a big one.
An annual test set for Thursday will simulate a response to a major earthquake, 72 hours after impact, coupled with a cyberattack on local government.
It's called Yellow Command and Exercise Director Corinne Bartshire said the timeframe was chosen so governments would have enough time to establish distribution points for food and water.
Yellow Command is part of Urban Shield - advanced first responder training happening this weekend that involves hundreds of people working together on disaster preparedness.
"This is the most realistic training anywhere in the country," said Alameda County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ray Kelly, an event spokesman. "We will test the capabilities of law-enforcement, fire, emergency medical services and emergency management."
This is the 10th year of Urban Shield.
Critics see the event as excessive and sa6y it represents an increased militarization of the police. Protests have occurred at past events.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
