All eyes were on the front of the room, where an intense scenario played out on screen.

Part of an elaborate exercise held annually at Brock, the video ran through a mock emergency, one that in real life would have put the main campus on lockdown.

The important training event, held last Wednesday, brought together the University’s Emergency Management Group to practise executing response protocols in a time of crisis. The group consists of senior administration and staff from a number of departments from across the University.

Each year, a different hypothetical scenario is acted out, whether it be a fire, natural disaster or an act of violence on campus, and Brock’s emergency management plan tested.

Facilitated by Campus Security Services, the exercise takes months to organize and is a critical component of Brock’s emergency planning.

“There are a lot of people involved in making this exercise happen,” said Rick Fraser, Brock’s Manager, Emergency Management and Life Safety. “We start planning in February because there’s a lot of co-ordination required. It takes time to design the scenario, which has to be as real as possible.”

That realism is key to ensuring the situation is taken seriously, as it would be in a real-life event, he said.

“We try to look at scenarios that are topical, relevant and could, but rarely ever do, happen on campus.”

The exercise often involves not only Brock employees, but also local first responders. This year’s training operation was held in partnership with the Niagara Regional Police Emergency Task Unit, whose members tested their school response protocols during a field exercise on campus while Brock training was underway.

For both Brock and emergency personnel, the exercise is meant to identify gaps in response procedures, allowing for them to be addressed prior to an actual emergency occurring, Fraser said.

“You really can’t practise enough,” he said. “The more you practise, the more you learn. We can’t be prepared unless we practise. It may take time and staff resources, but it’s critically important.”

Each exercise is built around a different department within the University in hopes of identifying improvements in responses, resources, systems and communications that are needed. After the exercise is completed, steps are taken to address any shortfalls that are found.

Anyone with questions or concerns regarding the annual emergency exercise can contact Campus Security Services at 905-688-5550 x4300.