Major training exercise returning to Muscatatuck Sunday

The Indiana National Guard says the Guardian Response Exercise will be returning to Muscatatuck Urban Training Center starting on Sunday.

The federal emergency response exercise simulates a national emergency in order to test the preparedness of federal emergency response teams. More than 5,000 responders will be stationed at the North Vernon Airport Contingency Operating Base and coming in from Camp Atterbury.

Muscatatuck will simulate a community hit by a disaster and debris including destroyed cars and old mobile homes will be deployed about the base, blocking roads to create the simulated disaster area.

There will be an increase of traffic in the area, both on local roads and in the air. You could see delays of 10-15 minutes with large convoys of vehicles or troops moving in the area.

The exercise will last through May 14th.