“The one-day exercise will focus on our response to an active shooter using a unified approach,” Roanoke Rapids police Chief Chuck Hasty said. “The Roanoke Rapids Police Department, Roanoke Rapids Fire Department, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District, Halifax County Emergency Management, and other first responder agencies will all have staff participating in this training.”

This training exercise will be conducted from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will close down Virginia Avenue and Park Avenue in the vicinity of Manning Elementary School.

“For the safety and security of the exercise, the public’s safety and to avoid interference with this important exercise, community members are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes on August 17 during these times,” Hasty said.

The active shooter response drill is a proactive approach to planning and implementation of current public safety techniques in the unlikely event of an incident like this. “This drill at Manning Elementary School is just one example of how the partnership between local response agencies is functioning well together to provide a safe environment for all our community members,” Hasty said. “Please be reminded that this is a training exercise to prepare school staff, law enforcement and first responders for a potential incident. In the event of an actual emergency, the public will be notified using various media outlets and alert systems.”