Verona's Emergency Service Departments Come Together for Real-Life Exercise Drills 

On June 2, 2024, the Verona Office of Emergency Management (OEM) brought together the township's police, fire, and rescue departments for a multi-agency exercise at the fire training facility located at Commerce Court. The collaborative effort aimed to test the departments' response to real-life emergency scenarios, strengthening their preparedness and coordination in providing effective emergency response services to the community.

The exercise, which involved 30 members, volunteers, and staff, featured two tactical scenarios designed to simulate real-world emergencies. The first scenario involved a construction accident with  a person pinned underneath a shipping container, requiring a coordinated response to rescue the individual. The second scenario involved a cardiac arrest situation where the patient needed to be transported down several stories without the use of a stairs, all while receiving medical attention.

The successful exercise demonstrated the importance of interagency collaboration in responding to emergencies. "The cooperation and communication among our emergency services departments are crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community," said Connor McCann, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator. "These exercises help us identify areas for improvement and reinforce our commitment to providing the highest level of service to our residents."

The next scheduled training exercises are set to take place on Saturday, June 22nd, and will focus on high occupancy and mass area evacuation, as well as structure fire operations.

Individuals interested in volunteering or applying to join Verona's police, fire, or rescue departments are encouraged to reach out to the following contacts:

* Verona Police Department: www.veronapolice.org

* Verona Fire Department: www.veronafd.org

* Verona Rescue Squad: www.veronars.org

By working together, Verona's emergency services departments can provide a more effective and efficient response to emergencies, ultimately saving lives and protecting the community. A public presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26th, at the Verona Community Center to discuss the proposed plans for the proposed Emergency Services building. Please visit below website for more information: VeronaNJ.org/EmergencyServicesBuilding 

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is a component of municipal government that is responsible for emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts throughout the township. Members of the OEM staff operate under the direction of the municipal Emergency Management Coordinator. Members of the OEM staff prepare operations plans for events in the township, prepare for natural disasters and other major incidents, provide training for the township's first responders to better enhance their service, and respond to incidents that require their expertise.