Large-scale emergency response exercise at Grace Miller School in Bealeton on July 21

Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office, Fauquier County Fire and Rescue, Fauquier Hospital and Fauquier County Public Schools will hold an emergency response exercise at Grace Miller Elementary School, located at 6248 Catlett Road in Bealeton, on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

The “Unified Hostile Incident Full Scale Exercise” will take place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will involve a large amount of law enforcement, fire and emergency medical service personnel and equipment.

This exercise will allow emergency responders, town and county staff, school division staff, and Fauquier Hospital to fine tune emergency response and recovery plans.

Residents and motorists in the area may see emergency response vehicles and personnel moving around the area throughout the exercise. Those in the vicinity of the school building may hear shouting, mock gunfire, and vehicle sirens.

During the exercise, law enforcement personnel will close Independence Ave., thereby prohibiting use by the general public, including access to the Grace Miller Elementary School and Liberty High School campuses and athletic fields and facilities. The campus of Liberty High School will be used as a staging area for the exercise.

Officials apologize, in advance, for any inconvenience that this closure or the exercise itself may cause; however, the safety of exercise participants and the general public are primary concerns.

Fauquier County residents, particularly those in the Bealeton area, are asked to make all occupants of their households, including children, aware that the exercise itself is of no cause for alarm, and residents are encouraged to continue their daily routines.

To lessen the chance that children might be frightened should they witness any of the exercise, residents are encouraged to explain to their children, in an age-appropriate manner, what is taking place. Families may find this to be an opportune time to discuss family emergency planning.

Anyone with questions or concerns may contact Lt. James Hartman in the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or (540) 422-8600.