Active Shooter Exercise Set in Key West
The purpose of the Feb. 1 exercise is to test multiple agencies' response policies, plans, and procedures to an active shooter incident within the maritime domain.
Coast Guard Sector Key West and the Florida Keys Area Maritime Security Committee will host a full-scale exercise with local agencies on Feb. 1 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Key West, Fla. The exercise, part of the Area Maritime Security and Training Exercise Program, will have federal, state, local, and industry partners respond and recover from a simulated active shooter threat at the Key West Ferry Terminal.
The purpose of the exercise is to test agencies' response policies, plans, and procedures to an active shooter incident within the maritime domain.
The exercise will take place at the terminal, which is located at 100 Grinnell St., with all exercise play transparent to the public, according to the USCG announcement. About 100 individuals will participate, including representatives from multiple law enforcement agencies, local fire departments, medical/emergency medical service personnel, emergency management personnel, water treatment facilities, the maritime industry, the Coast Guard, and the FBI.
"When a significant event takes place, federal, state and local agencies establish a unified command to oversee the response," said Capt. Francisco Rego, Coast Guard Federal Maritime Security coordinator. "Exercises like this build cohesiveness between agencies within the port, strengthen our ability to form a coordinated response, and ultimately improving response times and effectiveness."