Local emergency crews are preparing for the worst-case scenario at two schools today and testing their skills to make sure children are safe.
Crews turned Myers Park High School and Alexander Graham Middle School into training sites for the day while students are out for a teacher workday. But about 400 students and the entire staff of Myers Park participated in the full-scale training drill.
Authorities pretended that shots had been fired and explosives detonated inside the Charlotte high school early Monday. The students and staff were evacuated and bussed to Cricket Arena to wait out the drama.
Helicopters, ambulances, police officer and firefighters took part in the practice. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools staff said the district has never participated in a drill of this magnitude. They said it is important, however, because massive crisis plans are only as good as they are on paper.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to see exactly what works and what doesn't with our emergency plan," said Latarja Henry, spokesperson for CMS. "Plans are evolving so this gives us an opportunity to exercise it to see where our weaknesses and our strengths are."
CMS does emergency drills on regular basis, but none on this scale. Officials said they practice year-round.
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