The Maricopa County Department of Public Health Office of Preparedness and Response  will be on the campus of Scottsdale Community College until  5 p.m. today conducting a full-scale exercise.

The goal of the exercise, which was to begin at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, is to assess the proficiency of the department in responding to, and recovering from, a large-scale and unexpected threat to the health of the citizens of Maricopa County, according to a release.

“These exercises are conducted so that we can look at our systems, planning and procedures that are in place and determine what works and what needs to be changed,” said Katie Turnbow, manager of the preparedness and response office.

“They also allow us to collaborate with partners within the community so that if another pandemic or other emergency to public health emerges, we can quickly and effectively respond together.”

The exercise will focus on such areas as emergency operations coordination, emergency public information and warning and volunteer management to meet requirements of the Centers for Disease Control Public Health Emergency Preparedness guidance, the release stated.

“As the COVID-19 pandemic showed us, we must be ready to address any known, emerging or unexpected public health emergency," Turnbow said. "Exercises like this ensure MCDPH is ready to face any public health emergencies that may occur.”