Three days after tremors rattled the Valley, the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) will host the first statewide earthquake response exercise. The Wednesday drill to test more than 75 state and local agencies was planned before Sunday’s small earthquakes.
State records show significant tremors have taken place in the past in Arizona. The drill will test agencies and their ability to respond to a magnitude seven earthquake.
Jan Lindner with DEMA said the agency worked with the Arizona Geological Survey in planning the drill.
“They have been providing us input, they gave us the location of the best place that would be, they were the ones who gave us the number in regards to what the magnitude is," Lindner said.
DEMA supports all 15 counties and local entities. In 2014, the department conducted 41 exercises in the state on all levels either by being a support role or the lead agency.