D.C. and Virginia Conduct Full Scale Emergency Preparedness Drills

Virginia and D.C. are each conducting full-scale emergency response exercises to test their preparedness for multiple terrorist incidents.

The Northern Virginia Emergency Response System is simulating multiple bombings in Alexandria and Fairfax City, as well as in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon and Prince William Counties.

The drills involve hundreds of emergency first responders, 18 hospitals and the FBI. But spokesman Mark Penn says the plan was designed to make minimal disruptions for residents. "They might see actors that have been made up to look like they're injured. But most of the venues are closed venues where they're not close to the roadways or bypasses where folks will see them," says Penn.

The exercises in D.C. will be less visible. They'll occur inside three undisclosed locations in the District and continue on Sunday.

Mana Rabiee reports...