Troup County Emergency Management Agency recently participated in an effective communications exercise to test the area’s redundant communications capabilities in the event of a cyber-attack.

During the preemptive exercise, participating agencies experienced a simulated cyber threat in which internet connectivity was one of the central targets.

Within the progression of the exercise, communication methods were restricted and excluded any type which required the connectivity of internet, cellular, landline or power.

The successful exercise concluded with over 100 exchanges made between local and surrounding jurisdictions despite the loss of several various communication methods.

The objective of the exercise was to progressively remove selective forms of communication in order to test alternative methods of sending and receiving information to help better prepare agencies for real-life emergency situations involving the loss of internal and external communication methods.

The exercise included participation from all 25 counties within the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Area 4. Local participation included agencies from Troup County, Hogansville, LaGrange, West Point and local Amateur Radio operators. The exercise took over six months to plan and 10 hours to complete.