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Charlotte County, Fla. — ������ will conduct a full-scale school reunification training exercise on May 30 to enhance emergency preparedness and improve coordination during school-related emergencies.

The county-wide training aims to strengthen coordination among emergency responders, school personnel, and community agencies to ensure a safe, timely reunification of students with their families following a school-related emergency. The exercise will include live role-playing by volunteers to simulate a real-world response scenario.

The training will take place at Murdock Middle School and the Centennial Park recreation center. Residents can expect to see a noticeable presence of law enforcement and emergency services in those areas throughout the day.

“Our number one job is educating students, but their safety must come first,” said Superintendent Mark Vianello. “While we hope this type of situation never occurs, it's vital that we are fully prepared to respond effectively if it does. We’re grateful for the partnership with our local agencies in keeping our schools safe.”

This coordinated effort involves participation from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Punta Gorda Police Department, Charlotte County Fire & EMS, the Punta Gorda Fire Department, Charlotte County Emergency Management, and Charlotte County Public Works.

“We hope our schools never face a situation that requires this type of response,” said School Board Chair John Leclair. “But if the unthinkable happens, we must be ready. This training is about preparation, coordination, and making sure we do everything possible to protect our students and staff.”

Sheriff Bill Prummell emphasized the importance of joint training efforts, stating, “While we can never predict what kind of emergency we may be responding to, it is crucial that we prepare for anything and everything. Training opportunities like this help us rehearse collaboration with our partner agencies so we can keep our community safe and appropriately informed.” He added, “We are ready to respond to those situations that we pray never happen, but practicing for them is invaluable. There is no such thing as being over-prepared for an emergency, and I want Charlotte County to know that all of these agencies are committed to your safety.”

Signage will be posted in the affected areas to inform the public that a training is in progress. Community members are advised that the increased activity is part of a planned training exercise and there is no cause for concern.

For additional information regarding any temporary county facility closures or service impacts, please contact Ashley Turner at Ashley.Turner@CharlotteCountyFL.gov.