The exercise will bring together emergency responders and planners from the Bureau of Reclamation, Kittitas, Yakima, and Benton counties who will describe actions they would take during various disaster scenarios. The exercise will take place at the Kittitas Valley Event Center in Ellensburg, Wash.

"The purpose of the exercise is to test Emergency Action Plans for Reclamation facilities along the Upper Yakima River as if they were under stress and to promote preparedness and communication with the downstream emergency response teams," said Matt Leslie, Reclamation Civil Engineer.

Reclamation will join county law enforcement fire and rescue departments, the American Red Cross, various Washington State agencies, and other government agencies throughout the two-day exercise.

For further information regarding the emergency exercise or to find out if you are in a potential flood plain, contact Matt Leslie with the Bureau of Reclamation, at (509) 575-5848 ext. 224. For further information on what to do in an emergency, contact the county sheriff's office in your area.