A full-scale hazardous-materials disaster will take place Thursday in the parking lot of the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive, said Bob Newton of Douglas County Emergency Management.

Fortunately, however, it’s just an interdepartmental training exercise and Lawrence residents need not panic.

Between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday Douglas County Emergency Management, Kansas University Public Safety, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, the Lawrence Police Department, Lawrence Memorial Hospital and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, among other agencies, will participate in the simulated emergency, Newton said. The goal is to allow each agency to test its response plan, both individually and as it cooperates with other agencies.

“We get to practice the multi-agency coordination of an incident, which normally doesn’t happen with the routine traffic accidents, emergencies or fires,” Newton said.

The last exercise of this kind took place in 2013, Newton said.

This year’s exercise will test emergency responders’ procedures for handling hazardous materials, as well as patient-decontamination plans, Newton said.

Because of the nature of the simulation there will be heavy law enforcement and emergency responder activity on Kansas University’s West Campus, Newton said as a reminder to those who may pass by the area.

“There won’t be red lights and sirens screaming across campus, but there will be fire trucks, ambulances and all kinds of equipment in the Lied Center parking lot,” he said.