Volunteers wanted for fake disaster training

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The city of Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management needs 1,000 adult volunteers to participate in a multi-scenario disaster preparedness exercise.

The event, called Urban Shield, is set for Saturday, and will allow the city to demonstrate and practice what it would really be like in a full-scale disaster.

Urban Shield is the first exercise of its kind in Texas and is designed to test responders' skills with handling incidents involving contamination, mass injuries and casualties.

The exercise will be held at the Travis County Exposition Center , 7311 Decker Lane. The demonstration is expected to be about eight hours, and volunteers will receive lunch, beverages and a free T-shirt. Early registration is encouraged.

During the exercise several emergency forces will come into action including hospital personnel, law enforcement, EMS, and HAZMAT responders from Travis, Hays and Williamson County.

Volunteers will get to experience hands-on what happens in a real-world response to these types of events. The volunteers will act as "victims" and will have fake injuries applied. Volunteers will also be able to experience "decontamination" and be transported to area hospitals where they would be treated as though they really had the injury.

Those interested in volunteering for the event an register online .

For more information contact Austin HSEM at 512-974-0450.