The Butte community will get an opportunity to witness first-hand the response of Butte - Silver Bow County emergency teams during a simulated disaster at Bert Mooney Airport.

In preparation for Tuesday morning's four-hour training exercise, around 12 coordinators from various parts of the country met to review plans for the drill that will bring together various groups, including firefighters, police officers and medical personnel.     

State and local evaluators said their role is to gauge the county's readiness to a disaster.

"It's very crucial because all the different agencies and entities that respond. What is does is that it puts them all on the same page to where they can work together to be prepared in the event of a real emergency," said Operation Chief of Disaster and ER Larry Ross.

"Each person who is part of our management team for the exercise has expertise in a specific field. It may be firefighting, incident command. It may be airport management. So they all play a role," said Roger Ebner, Butte - Silver Bow Emergency Management Director.

Ebner said the exercise allows the county to practice their skills and around 40 volunteers will participate in the drill by portraying a variety of injuries.

Since the exercise is for practice purposes only, the public should not be concerned when they hear sirens and see emergency response vehicles travelling to the airport between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, according to the county.

The county is inviting the public to observe the exercise.

Parking is available at the South Airport Road entrance and shuttle buses will be on hand to take people to a seating area.

Those planning to attend are asked to arrive no later than 8:45 a.m.