By SAXON DAUGHERTY
Staff writer
Numerous Venango County emergency agencies will join forces Thursday to conduct an active shooter drill at Franklin High School.
Participating in the exercise will be multiple law enforcement groups, Venango County Public Safety, Franklin Area School District, Community Ambulance Service, Venango County Human Services, Venango County Court Supervision, local fire departments and PennDOT.
The practice scenario is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
Area residents should expect to see emergency response vehicles while the drill is in progress.
“We don’t want to cause an unnecessary alarm,” said trooper Michelle McGee, community service officer with state police in Franklin.
McGee said no road closures will be put into effect during the drill, but there will be message ports from PennDOT to advise motorists of what is going on.
McGee advised that drivers should not stop or pull in to the school property during the drill because it could cause a disruption.
A lockdown drill was held at the Franklin High School last year, and McGee said the active shooter exercise is a follow up to that.
The purpose of taking the time to carry out the drill is simply to make sure all of the parties involved know what proper communication is needed if an active shoot scenario ever takes place.
“Having drills help empower everyone and give them more confidence,” McGee said. “This kind of lets everybody understand what to do.”
Some students and staff will be involved in the drill, and McGee believes it is just as beneficial to them as it is to law enforcement officials.
“That’s the goal – everybody takes something away and gains some knowledge,” McGee added.
