With just 13 days until the NFL Draft arrives in Pittsburgh, public safety leaders say they are prepared for an unprecedented influx of visitors.<\/p>\n
>>> Pittsburgh NFL Draft: What you need to know <<<<\/a><\/p>\n Officials from nearly every agency involved gathered Thursday to outline their plan, calling the scale of the event unlike anything the city has handled.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are prepared across all public safety sectors. … The scale of this is exponential \u2014 far beyond what we\u2019ve seen before,\u201d Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Sheldon Williams said.<\/p>\n RELATED COVERAGE >>>These are the roads that will close for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh<\/a><\/p>\n While specific staffing numbers were not released, officials say there will be a heavy and highly visible law enforcement presence across the North Shore, Point State Park, and downtown Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n Fans attending the draft can expect to see officers on bicycles and horseback, along with river rescue teams, hazmat crews, tactical units, and a large number of EMS workers and firefighters stationed throughout the area.<\/p>\n RELATED COVERAGE >>>Will NFL Draft reality meet expectations for economic impact?<\/a><\/p>\n There will also be a strong federal presence \u2014 including FBI agents monitoring activity in the air. A strict no-fly zone will be enforced over the event, and anyone caught flying a drone in the restricted area could face criminal charges.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re deploying teams and specialized equipment to ensure any threat posed by unauthorized drones is handled quickly and seriously,\u201d said FBI Special Agent in Charge, Rick Evanchec.<\/p>\n RELATED COVERAGE >>>\u2018PicksBURGH\u2019 celebrations revealed for NFL Draft week in Downtown Pittsburgh<\/a><\/p>\n Beyond security on the ground and in the air, officials say they are also coordinating with UPMC and Allegheny Health Network to ensure rapid medical response capabilities if needed.<\/p>\n They emphasized that all of these added resources will not take away from everyday emergency services.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to assure city residents that public safety is our top priority. … We\u2019ve taken deliberate steps to support this event without disrupting normal emergency services,\u201d said Assistant Chief Jen McDermott-Grubb with Pittsburgh EMS.<\/p>\n RELATED COVERAGE >>> Even more roads will close the week before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh<\/a><\/p>\n The area will be fully secured during the draft, with designated entry points similar to those used during Steelers games, including bag checks and screenings.<\/p>\n \u201cAttendees should expect bag screenings and restricted items\u2026 and as always, if you see something suspicious, report it,\u201d said Commander Anthony Polarmo.<\/p>\n While safety preparations continue behind the scenes, construction is still visibly underway in parts of the city. In Market Square, crews are racing to finish work ahead of the event \u2014 though some areas remain active construction zones.<\/p>\n RELATED COVERAGE >>> The NFL Draft is approaching in Pittsburgh. Here\u2019s what we know about the campus so far<\/a><\/p>\n Still, many fans say they\u2019re confident everything will come together in time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know what \u2014 if the Lord can rise in three days, I believe this can be done in 13,\u201d said Dana Marchisotto.<\/p>\n Click here for more 2026 NFL Draft coverage.<\/a><\/p>\n Download the FREE WPXI News app<\/a> for breaking news alerts.<\/p>\n Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter<\/a>. | Watch WPXI NOW<\/a><\/p>\n