The Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) recently conducted a full-scale safety exercise to test their emergency response plans to a complex coordinated attack impacting the convention center.

In partnership with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Orange County Fire Rescue (OCFR) and Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), the OCCC was the first convention center in the nation to conduct an exercise of this size. Featuring nearly 400 participants and 150 first responders from OCSO and OCFR, the exercise involved multiple simulated incidents to assess core capabilities, including on-scene security and protection, mass care services, situational assessment, public information and warning, and operational coordination.

“The lessons we learned during this joint exercise underscore the critical importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local partners to ensure the safety of our customers and guests,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “This event provided invaluable insights that allowed us to strengthen our preparedness efforts to ensure that we provide clients and guests a safe venue where they can continue to feel confident and secure in hosting events at the OCCC.”

Located in the heart of the bustling International Drive area, the OCCC plays a vital role in hosting events that attract millions of attendees each year. Given the area’s density and significant visitor volume, this 90-minute training event served as an important opportunity to reinforce safety protocols, benefiting those who host and attend events at the Center.

The exercise, designed to evaluate the preparedness and coordination of the OCCC, OCFR and OCSO in the event of a real-life emergency, provides the OCCC with the necessary resources to assist show management and showcases the Center’s ongoing commitment to safety and security.

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About the Orange County Convention Center
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center provides approximately $3.9 billion in economic impact to Central Florida annually. In recent years, the Convention Center has averaged nearly 200 events, including 115 conventions and tradeshows that attract more than 1.5 million attendees to the region each year. For more information about the Orange County Convention Center, visit www.occc.net.