On 08-06-08, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocala Police Department along with the Marion County School System, will be conducting a school rescue drill at Forest High School. These agencies have joined efforts to create an operational plan for responding to an all hazard event involving schools in Marion County. This school rescue exercise will test multi-agency response, communication and cooperative efforts while maintaining a high level of unified command. Teams that will be called to action in such an event include multi-agency SWAT and negotiations teams, MCSO aviation and mobile command, Marion County Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services.

The rescue drill is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. with multiple staging areas. The Forest High School staging area is for drill participants ONLY. Media is welcome to attend this event and is asked to respond to the second staging area at First Baptist Church of Ocala, located at 2801 SE Maricamp Rd. The exercise is expected to conclude by 12 noon.