Decatur disaster exercise scheduled for Wednesday

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) – You may notice increased activity in and around several medical facilities across Decatur on Wednesday.

Decatur-Morgan Hospital officials said a community exercise is scheduled for April 20, simulating a tornado that causes mass casualties, loss of public infrastructure and damage to a DMH facility. The exercise will begin at 1 p.m. and the parts visible to the public will last one hour.

During this period, patients, visitors and hospital staff will receive multiple warnings and announcements, all distinguished by the word “exercise”. There will also be increased activity in and around medical facilities, especially lobbies and emergency rooms.

DMH officials stressed that patient care would continue as normal throughout the fiscal year.

All four DMH facilities: the hospital itself, Parkway Campus, West Campus, and Danville Road Campus will participate in the exercise, along with Decatur-Morgan EMS and the Decatur Surgical Center.