Michigan State University’s Department of Police and Public Safety, or DPPS, led a full-scale emergency exercise at the East Lansing campus on Tuesday. The simulation, which ran from 8-11:30 a.m., brought together MSU units and local emergency response partners in a coordinated effort to test readiness and response to a campus emergency.
The exercise took place in East Campus at the area surrounding the Wharton Center, Hagadorn Road, Wilson Road and Shaw Lane. Community members may have seen and heard emergency vehicles, sirens and uniformed personnel as part of the planned drill.
This full-scale exercise was conducted as part of MSU’s ongoing commitment to emergency preparedness and in alignment with Emergency Management Accreditation Program standards.
“Training is one of the most critical elements of preparedness,” said Mike Yankowski, MSU police chief and executive director of public safety. “I remind our team that the more we train and the better prepared we are, the better we will perform when it matters most. This exercise demonstrated how thorough planning and collaboration allow us to manage complex scenarios effectively and keep our community safe.”
The simulation allowed MSU DPPS and participating units to evaluate response coordination, communication and logistical planning under realistic conditions. Exercises of this kind are an essential part of maintaining a safe and secure environment for Spartans and visitors.
DPPS will spend the coming days and weeks reviewing feedback from those who participated in the event to identify strengths and areas for growth. Every training exercise presents an opportunity to grow and strengthen skill sets.
Exercises are conducted with community partners who are most likely to be impacted and who would coordinate a response to a potential campus event to ensure consistent and standardized training.
Natisha Foster, emergency manager at MSU DPPS, expressed appreciation for the collective effort: “DPPS would like to thank all the participating agencies, volunteers and the planning committee for working collaboratively to strengthen relationships and capabilities ahead of any emergency situation. These exercises are invaluable in helping all our organizations enhance preparedness and improve response efforts.”
The MSU Alert System was not activated for the training, but community members were reminded to always respond appropriately to real alerts and notifications.
Learn more about preparedness efforts and ongoing safety initiatives at the MSU DPPS website.