Oxford prepares citizens for a mock explosion. Citizens prepare Oxford for a mock zombie invasion.

The Lafayette County Emergency Management, Oxford Emergency Management, MEMA and the University of Mississippi will sponsor a Mass Casualty Simulation at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on July 31.

Thirty volunteers are needed to play “victims,” as well as three people to apply Hollywood style make-up, as the victims will be made up to look like they have just been injured in an explosion. Some participants will be rushed to the hospital for further “examination.”

To get a visual of what we have in store, check out the video at the bottom of the story. The film was shot in 2011 by the Community College of Aurora Film School in Aurora, Colorado for a very similar simulation.

“The main goal of a mass casualty simulation is to prepare local communities and first responders to handle disasters as effectively as possible,” says Angie Rankin, Director of North Central Mississippi Medical Reserve Corp.

In this instance, the disaster we are preparing the Oxford community for is a small explosion, similar to those we witnessed during the Boston Marathon this past spring. We doubt Oxford shows up on anyones’ terrorism radar, but in this day and age, a mass casualty simulation seems as reasonable as your regular fire drills.

This exercise will take place in the morning, and the volunteers will need to make plans to be at the stadium by approximately 8 a.m. The organizers need people of any age to participate, including children. Volunteers must register by July 12 in order to participate.

For more information or to register, please call Angie Rankin at 662-232-2476. –– William Fowler, junior Integrated Marketing Communications Major, Meek School of Journalism and New Media

Email William Fowler at wdfowle1@go.olemiss.edu

William Fowler is a junior Integrated Marketing Communications Major at the University of Mississippi. Originally from Hattiesburg, MS, William grew up in Destin, FL and has been visiting Oxford ever since he can remember. He has fourteen family members total who have attended school at Ole Miss including his parents, grandparents, sister, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is involved in student government and Greek life on campus.