Washington health officials are testing how the state would respond to a catastrophic Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami in a two-day exercise that began Monday.
The Washington State Department of Health’s exercise runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
The first day tests responders’ ability to work under disaster conditions.
On the second day, participants will deploy resources, set up field operations, test communications, and coordinate personnel and equipment statewide.
The exercise is designed to test how well Washington can carry out and sustain field operations during a complex emergency. It also aims to identify gaps and strengthen coordination among public health, health care, emergency management, Tribal, local and state partners.
The department said testing these systems together under realistic conditions can help communities prepare for an emergency.
The exercises will be at multiple sites across the state.