On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Charleston County Emergency Management will conduct its annual full-scale emergency response exercise in coordination with regional partner agencies.
This year’s day-long exercise will simulate a train rail emergency and will generate an increased presence of emergency response personnel, equipment, and vehicles in the Bennett Yard area, adjacent to I-26 Westbound between the Dorchester Road and West Montague Avenue exits.
To allow for effective training, the public is asked to avoid the simulated response areas whenever possible.
“In Emergency Management, our strengths lie in unity and readiness,” said Emergency Management Director Justin Pierce. “Training together across departments and specialties ensures we can respond seamlessly as one team when real emergencies occur. Preparing for a wide range of scenarios together is essential to our mission to protect the lives and property of our community.”
Charleston County conducts full-scale exercises each year to engage staff and partner agencies in realistic training scenarios that test coordination, communication, and response capabilities for complex emergencies.