By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
County prepares for disaster with mock exercise
Placeholder Image

Operation “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” Stanislaus County’s version of the statewide medical health exercise, will be performed from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

Based on an earthquake scenario, the exercise consists of a “building collapse” at Ralston Tower in Modesto and operating an evacuation shelter in Patterson. Roughly 150 volunteers and staff from various agencies will be participating in the exercise in various activities.

Fire and ambulance services will conduct search and rescue and field triage and treatment capabilities at Ralston Tower. Law enforcement and public works personnel will manage security, and traffic operations and area hospitals will exercise their ability to handle patient surge during a mass casualty incident. The American Red Cross and Stanislaus County Community Services Agency will open and operate a shelter for “evacuees.”

“This exercise provides an excellent opportunity for the medical-health and emergency operations community to work together to test communication systems, plans and policies, as well as to foster teamwork in preparation for the effects of a major earthquake in the area,” said exercise director, Jim Ferrera, staff services coordinator for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency.

Agencies and organizations participating in this event include: Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services, Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, Stanislaus County Community Services Agency, Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, Modesto Regional Fire

Authority, Modesto Police Department, Modesto Public Works, Mountain Valley Emergency Medical Services Agency, American Medical Response, ProTransport-1, Doctors Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, Oak Valley Hospital District, Memorial Medical Center, Emanuel Medical Center, Golden Valley Health Centers, and the American Red Cross.

The California Department of Public Health and the California Emergency Medical Services Authority co-sponsor this annual exercise.

Ralston Tower is located at 900 17th Street in Modesto. In order to accommodate the participating agencies, I Street will be closed between Downey and 17th streets from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Traffic will be diverted to the “Five Points” area at McHenry and J streets. Members of the public who will be driving in the area during this time, are asked to please plan ahead in anticipation of the additional traffic.