By Rupert Howell

Batesville Police Captain Jimmy McCloud is warning everyone who will listen not to panic on Friday, June 25 when there will be a disaster drill involving his department as well as other emergency response agencies throughout the county at South Panola High School.

“We just don’t want the public going into panic when they see helicopters and blue lights around the school that day,” McCloud explained.

Planning for the emergency response scenario has been under way for months, according to McCloud who wouldn’t reveal exactly what was planned but said that it was not a “haz mat” (hazardous materials) scenario that emergency responders have previously trained for.

McCloud also revealed that the emergency scenario would be “a very realistic situation” and that emergency room personnel at the local hospital would also get their required annual disaster training.

The BPD captain said the training would test the local emergency plan, dispatch and communication skills and how well different departments and agencies can work together in an emergency type situation.

Local broadcasters will be asked to air notices a day or two before the drill and M-DOT is being asked to provide message boards near the scene prior to the event to help prevent panic, according to McCloud.