Dakota County to Test Emergency Preparedness in Apple Valley

Residents who see lots of emergency personnel and law enforcement gathered in Apple Valley on Saturday, they shouldn't be alarmed—it's just a drill.

Dakota County Emergency Preparedness will stage an emergency preparedness drill from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the transit station at 157th Street West and Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley.

DCEP holds one of these mock emergencies every three to five years to test the response skills of emergency personnel and law enforcement to a large-scale emergency, said Apple Valley Fire Chief Nealon Thompson.

He said it's not revealed beforehand exactly what the emergency will be to make the situation more useful for responders.

"We want them to be challenged by the event," Thompson said.

Apple Valley and departments will participate, as well departments from Burnsville, Eagan, Lakeville and Rosemount, Allina ambulance and Dakota County Special Operations.

"It’s a great training opportunity to involve the four cities around us," Thompson said.

He said there would be "limited" opportunity for citizens to observed, but he advised citizens to stay away from the scene and to know that the event is only a drill.

"There's no reason to be concerned," Thompson said. "It is all an exercise."