On April 24, students, faculty and staff should be prepared for some disruptions to campus operations as Piedmont, in collaboration with local emergency services, conducts a mass casualty drill. While this is not the first year such a disaster drill has been held at Piedmont, previous drills took place in and around the Swanson Center, while this year’s drill is primarily taking place in the Sewell Center with additional activity on the Quad and in the surrounding buildings.
There will be an increased presence of both emergency personnel and vehicles—including an Air Life Georgia helicopter—on campus that day which will impact parking and building access and result in some road closures.
Chapel Alley, Massachusetts Boulevard, Demorest Lake Road, the main entrance to campus and Johnny Mize Drive between Georgia Street at The Commons and Massachusetts Boulevard will be closed to traffic during the drill, which will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Sewell, where the majority of the drill will take place, will be inaccessible to anyone not participating in the event.
Additionally, Lane Hall, Camp Hall and the library will be inaccessible only through the back doors as the front doors that open out onto the Quad will be locked for safety purposes.
Daniel Hall and Stewart Hall will also have limited access as they will be used for staging the event.
The Quad will be inaccessible for the first half of the day and alternate walking routes will be designated for anyone on campus that day.
The Commons, the Art building, and the Swanson Center will be open.
According to Renee’ Fargason, assistant vice president of public affairs at Piedmont, the drill is anticipated to be complete by 1 p.m., at which time all roads, parking lots and buildings, except Sewell, will reopen.
Organizers of the event encourage members of the Piedmont community to not be alarmed by the planned simulation. However, Sean Williamson, director of counseling services, and two of his colleagues will be available after the drill for any student who needs assistance regarding the experience.
While many Piedmont students will find themselves without traditional class that day, more than 200 students from nursing, criminal justice, forensic science, psychology, education, theater and mass communication will be participating in the drill alongside the Piedmont University Police Department, the Georgia Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency and the Georgia State Patrol, among other agencies.
