Active shooter training by FEMA coming to Sedgwick County

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has selected Sedgwick County for an emergency preparedness exercise involving a full-scale active shooter simulation in 2025.

A news release from Sedgwick County says each year, FEMA’s National Exercise Program helps dozens of government entities conduct emergency preparedness exercises to gauge their disaster readiness. This is the first time Sedgwick County has been selected.

The simulation will be held on March 11, 2025.

“These exercises are so important for us to assess our preparedness planning, resources and capabilities to work with community partners in times of crisis,” Julie Stimson, Sedgwick County Emergency Management director, said in a news release. “Having FEMA support us through this process will fine-tune the training even more, at no cost to our community.”

Sedgwick County’s exercise is one of 43 selected across the country that FEMA will support for 38 government entities.

A well-designed simulation provides a low-risk environment to familiarize personnel with emergency roles and responsibilities. After the exercise, SCEM can reevaluate its preparedness plans and identify strengths and areas for improvement.

“I already know that our Emergency Management team is top-notch because they’ve proven it in the field countless times, but there is always room for improvement in our plans,” Commissioner Ryan Baty, chairman of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners, said in the release. “A large, complex exercise like this is an objective way to test our policies and procedures and enhance our response, before Sedgwick County has to deal with a real-life disaster.”

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