From Wayzata Police Chief Mike Risvold:
Full Scale Emergency Preparedness Exercise
Operation Black Cat
5500 Block Old Shoreline Drive
Mound, Minnesota
Saturday, May 2nd 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Media Staging: 5500 Block Shoreline Drive (top level of parking ramp)
Contact: Wayzata Police Chief Mike Risvold / 952-404-5343 / mrisvold@wayzata.org
Participants:
Law Enforcement Agencies – Mound, Minnetrista, Wayzata, Orono, South Lake Minnetonka, Deephaven. West Hennepin, Medina, Corcoran, Hennepin County, Minneapolis Bomb Squad
Fire Departments – Mound, St. Bonifacius, Long Lake, Wayzata, Excelsior, Maple Plain, Loretto, Minneapolis Collapse Structure Rescue
Emergency Medical Services – Ridgeview Medical Center, North Memorial Medical Center (including air ambulance), Hennepin County Medical Center
“Operation Black Cat” is a full scale Emergency Management/Homeland Security exercise designed to test the response of The Lake Minnetonka Regional Emergency Preparedness Plan. The terrorist based exercise will simulate the explosion of an improvised explosive device (or devices) that will partially collapse buildings, involve multiple fires, and require the treatment and transport of dozens of victims. It will test the National Incident Management System, mutual aid pacts, and the cooperative command structure between police, fire, EMS, and public works. The exercise will also test the communication system used by all of the entities. The exercise is estimated to involve more than 250 participants.
The damage that occurs from this event will facilitate Mound redevelopment, as it will result in the subsequent demolition of the former House of Moy Restaurant and other adjacent buildings. That demolition will take place Monday, May 4, and will prepare the site for the next phase of Mound’s new downtown.
Public viewing of Operation Black Cat will take place from the two upper levels of the new parking deck in the Mound Transit Center located on Shoreline Drive in downtown Mound. Designated spectator parking is at Mound Free Church and to the rear of Mound Back and Neck Clinic and the adjoining businesses. Breakfast and lunch concessions will be available.
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