Napa Agencies Prepare For Mass-Casualty Emergency Drill

NAPA COUNTY, CA — The Napa County Office of Emergency Services is preparing to conduct a mass casualty emergency drill March 7 in collaboration with local, state and federal partners.

The exercise will simulate an explosion during the 2025 Napa High School graduation that calls for an immediate response from personnel with local law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services.

The "i-MCI Full-Scale Exercise" trains first responders in realistic emergency scenarios, including simulated casualties, onsite incident command operations and coordinated patient transport to regional medical facilities.

With over 50 simulated casualties, insights and lessons learned during the mock explosion will be used to refine operational protocols, improve communication systems, and strengthen emergency response capabilities among participating agencies.

"This exercise is critical in ensuring our emergency response agencies are fully prepared to handle mass casualty incidents efficiently and effectively," said Michael Marsh of Marsh EMS Consulting. "Interoperability and coordination among allied agencies are essential in large-scale emergencies, and this drill provides a vital opportunity to enhance our preparedness."

Because some elements are planned to be as realistic as possible, Napa government officials want to ensure the community is aware of the drill.

The exercise is planned primarily for daytime hours at clearly marked locations throughout Napa which may result in temporary disruptions. The city advised residents to avoid zones that are designated for the exercise.

At least 16 agencies from jurisdictions and emergency response partners around Napa County will take part in the drill, including:

• Napa County Office of Emergency Services (OES)
• Napa County Sheriff’s Office
• Napa City Police Department
• Napa County Fire Department
• Napa City Fire Department
• Napa County Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• California Emergency Medical Services Authority (CA EMSA)
• Regional Disaster Medical Health Specialist (RDMHS)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI)
• Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (AASPR)
• Medical Mutual Aid Partners
• Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Partners
• Fire Mutual Aid Partners
• Alameda County EMS
• Queen of the Valley Medical Center