DETROIT (WWJ) - Officials are giving Detroiters a heads up a day in advance after announcing they're conducting a full-scale emergency exercise for several hours on Wednesday in the District Detroit.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in partnership with city, county, state and federal public safety agencies will hold the exercise around Ford Field, Comerica Park and LCA from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 26, WWJ's Jon Hewitt reported.
Hewitt said the training has been several years in the making, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lisa Beury-Russo, Associate Director for Exercises for CISA, said officials are carrying out the training at the city's three major public venues to better prepare for a mass event.
"As we have seen in the past, malicious actors target mass gatherings and public venues because of their ease of accessibility, crowd density and limited ability to incorporate protective measures," Beury-Russo explained.
"And because active assailant situations can evolve quickly, organizations need to take measures ahead of time to mitigate potential threats."
According to Hewitt, officials are keeping tight-lipped about what the exercise entails and which scenarios they are playing out, but they did warn residents to not be alarmed. Blaring sirens and a large amount of emergency vehicles are expected in the area during the morning and early afternoon hours.
Michigan State Police said the following road closures will be in effect during the exercise.
• Southbound curbside lane of Woodward from Sproat to Henry Street
• The QLine: Will run short Southbound to the Sproat station. Northbound service will start at Adelaide. The Montcalm, Grand Circus Park, Campus Martius, and Congress stations will be closed during the event.
Residents have been asked to stay away from the area until after 1 p.m.
