Flagler County public safety agencies conduct multi-agency training exercise

Written by: Julie Murphy, PIO, MPIO

Public Affairs Specialist

PIO | Publications

Multiple Flagler County public safety agencies partnered with Flagler County Emergency Management on Thursday to conduct a full-scale multi-agency training exercise at the Flagler County Fairgrounds, designed to strengthen coordinated response during complex emergencies.

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“The goal of the active assailant and mass casualty exercise, titled ‘Cornered and Critical’ was to ensure that emergency personnel – including law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, and hospital partners – enhance preparedness by validating and improving the existing capabilities.” said Emergency Management Manager Ryan Simpson, who oversaw the planning team that designed the exercise. “This was achieved through a structured, low-risk scenario that simulated real-world challenges.”

Two women walk together in front of bleachers, one with a bandaged arm Several sheriff officers and people in blue shirts are present, creating a tense scene Emergency responders attend to people lying on the ground during a drill or rescue scenario, with fire trucks and onlookers in the background Some responders are kneeling and assisting a person on a stretcher

The exercise brought together more than 100 first responders and volunteer role-players. Participating agencies and organizations included Flagler County Fire Rescue, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Coast Fire Department, Flagler County Emergency Communications Center (911 Dispatch), Bunnell Police Department, City of Flagler Beach Police and Fire departments, AdventHealth, and Flagler Volunteer Services.

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“Today’s exercise was about making sure our community is as safe as possible. When all our public safety partners train together, it strengthens how we respond when our residents need us most,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “I’m grateful for the teamwork shown across every agency and for the volunteers who helped make this training real and meaningful for Flagler County.”

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To support the large training footprint, the Fairgrounds were temporarily closed to the public during the morning and midday hours.

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“Training side‑by‑side with our partners is essential for delivering the level of service our community expects. These exercises help our Fire and EMS teams refine how we move into a complex scene, triage patients, and work seamlessly with law enforcement and the hospitals,” said Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Daniel VanDeusen. “Every minute we spend improving coordination today translates to faster, more effective care for our residents when real emergencies occur.”

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“Exercises like this sharpen our ability to respond decisively when lives are on the line. Law enforcement, fire rescue, EMS, and our hospital partners all have critical roles, and training together ensures we are ready to meet any threat to our community. I appreciate the professionalism shown by every participating agency and thank everyone who helped make this a realistic and valuable test of our capabilities,” said Rick Staly, Sheriff, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office

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The exercise emphasized rapid incident control, unified coordination, clear communications, resource management, scene security, and integrated emergency medical operations – all critical for ensuring that first responders can operate cohesively during high-risk, fast-moving emergencies. Responders also worked closely with local hospitals to practice medical surge and patient transport procedures.

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“Exercises like this sharpen our ability to respond decisively when lives are on the line. Law enforcement, fire rescue, EMS, and our hospital partners all have critical roles, and training together ensures we are ready to meet any threat to our community,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I appreciate the professionalism shown by every participating agency and thank everyone who helped make this a realistic and valuable test of our capabilities.”

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