Picayune emergency responders gathered on Thursday for their routine Table Top Emergency Exercise.
The group of firefighters, law enforcement personnel, hospital employees and other community leaders met to discuss how they would address a hostage situation, if one ever occurred in the area.
Picayune Assistant Fire Chief Barry Lee led Thursday’s mock-scenario, doling out notecards describing a possible situation involving hostages.
“When we get in a situation it’s better to have knowledge ahead of time,” Lee said. “It helps put a face with the name and put everyone in the same room to get an idea of resources.”
The group discussed possible resources already available in the community that could be used during a crisis.
The goal of the Table Top Exercise was to inform each party involved about the resources available, and ensure that coordinated, multi-agency efforts run smoothly in the future, Lee said.
“Even on some of our everyday calls, we know we have these resources,” Lee said. “It creates a closer working relationship.”
After working as a firefighter for 19 years, Lee said he’s “very impressed with where we stand today…we do the best we can possibly do with what we have.”
As the group went through the mock hostage situation, each department presented the resources they would have on-hand at the time.
“We’re good people [in this county],” Lee said. “It could all get started just that fast.”
Participants, including Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison and Picayune Police Chief Bryan Dawsey, presented the group with various solutions to the problems in Lee’s scenario.
Every department that might be involved was present, including a representative from the Picayune School District, Walt Esslinger, and the Picayune Municipal Airport, Andy Greenwood.
The group also discussed the role social and traditional media would play.
“The news can get ahead of us and be distorted,” Lee said.
Each department outlined who would coordinate with the public and how they would do so, depending on the situation, ensuring that any information released would not hinder an investigation.
Esslinger said the school system, if involved, would have an obligation to keep the public informed, but law enforcement would take point.
Depending on the severity of the situation and its location, Dawsey and Allison discussed which agency would take the lead, and at what point state or federal agencies would be called in for assistance.
“We know our people are trained and when they’re given an assignment they’ll be ready,” Lee said.
The group plans to hold another exercise in December, running through a new scenario that will present new challenges, Lee said.