'Dark Sky' training exercise to simulate mass power outage in Wisconsin

A training exercise meant to simulate a mass power outage will take place next month at sites across Wisconsin.

The exercise, known as Dark Sky, is scheduled to happen May 15-17 in Brown, Calumet, Dane, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Outagamie and Winnebago counties. The public should not be concerned by a greater presence of emergency responders, military personnel or drones during the exercise.

The exercise is intended to test the abilities of emergency responders and private utilities to respond to a long-term power outage across the state. The exercise will involve an Alliant Energy facility in Fond du Lac County that will serve as a National Guard training site.

“Our emergency management community must be prepared to deal with the myriad of scenarios and challenges posed by a long-term mass power outage," said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin's adjutant general. "By training together, we continue building meaningful relationships that leave us better positioned to respond to a real-world situation."

More than 1,000 people from federal, state, county and municipal agencies will participate in the training exercise.