Mike Sakal
East Valley Tribune
March 7, 2009

Valley residents may hear emergency sirens and see a flurry of helicopters flying overhead for five days beginning on Monday, but it’s all in the name of training.

It’s the annual implementation of the Coyote Crisis Campaign — a mock terrorism response exercise for federal, state and local agencies involving an improvised explosive device.

[efoods]Twenty-five hospitals, as well as the Arizona National Guard, the Arizona Department of Transportation and Arizona Department of Homeland Security will participate, according to a press release issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

The exercise, which is set to begin Monday morning, tests the Valley’s readiness in responding to a terrorist attack on a county wide level.

The drill will involve authorities responding to catastrophe scenarios. It will focus on evacuations and medical and mobile responses, and about 1,200 volunteers will take part.

The exercise will take place Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Goodyear, Tempe and Scottsdale, the DPS said.

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