University Park

Penn State, Centre Region to participate in joint emergency exercise

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State and the Centre Region Office of Emergency Management will conduct a joint emergency operations exercise on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The exercise will test the readiness of regional and University emergency operations staff to respond should a major disaster occur.

“If a large-scale emergency such as a weather event were to take place, collaboration and sharing of resources among Penn State and our partners in the Centre Region would be critical -- not only in the immediate aftermath, but in the hours and days afterward," said Brian Bittner, director of emergency management at Penn State. “This drill will serve as another opportunity for us to fine-tune our plans and our systems. Having strong, joint procedures in place now will help us to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency.”

As part of the exercise, Penn State’s PSUTXT emergency alert system will be tested. Those who have signed up for alerts from Penn State’s University Park campus will receive a test message during the drill.

Across the Centre Region, residents will receive a test notification by telephone, radio and/or television. Residents enrolled in the CodeRED notification program also will receive notification by cell phone. Social media test alerts will be distributed on the Centre Region’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well.

For more information about emergency preparedness, including guides for developing family emergency plans and preparing for winter weather, visit the Centre Region Office of Emergency Management and Penn State Emergency Management online.

Last Updated August 6, 2020