10/12/2025
Yesterday, we took part in one of our most extensive multi-agency exercises to date. After almost a year of planning, under the direction of our Mat-Su Emergency Management Team, we coordinated with the Wasilla Police Department, MATCOM, the Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police Department - AK, Central Mat-Su Fire Department, West Lakes Fire Department, Palmer Fire & Rescue, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, LifeMed Alaska, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, the Mat-Su Mobile Crisis Team and the American Red Cross of Alaska to carry out a large scale mass casualty drill that would test all levels of our emergency response.
Over 100 volunteers spread across multiple locations to simulate our worst nightmare: a violent mass-casualty incident at a local school. The drill ran in real time with live actors and realistic injuries. Responders were not pre-briefed (other than that it was a drill). This was an unscripted response and live radio traffic.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who showed up. Whether you played a stressed-out teenager, a frantic parent, an injured patient, or supported operations behind the scenes.
Now we take what we learned back to the table and tighten up our game. We’re having the right conversations as a cohesive public safety team. Coordination at a level that simply wasn’t possible a decade ago.
Nobody wants this. But “this” could also be many kinds of mass-casualty events. Knowing that we can achieve this level of cooperation and get it moving in under an hour is something our community should be proud of. They did some fantastic work.
Stay safe out there Mat-Su. And you know if you can't, we're here for you. 🚓🚒🚑
First responders from across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough took part in an active shooter drill.
