Addie McCluskey

Elmore Autauga News

The City of Prattville hosted the Alabama Mutual Aid System (AMAS), Oct. 7-8, 2025, at Cooter’s Pond Park for a statewide, full-scale disaster response exercise.

AMAS is a network of fire department teams across Alabama, organized to ensure a coordinated and efficient response during major disasters. These teams are trained, ready, and strategically positioned to provide mutual aid across the state.

“This is the first time this exercise has been hosted away from the fire college, and it’s the biggest one we have ever done,” said Jason Cupps, Captain of the Prattville Fire Department. “I think having it at a central location here in Prattville is a good spot for everybody to come together.”

The exercise featured land and water-based search tactics along with the use of aviation, drones, and K9 resources to simulate response efforts in a disaster environment. Approximately 20 miles of the Alabama River served as the designated simulated flood area during the event, allowing teams to train in a realistic and challenging environment.

“This exercise gives our team the opportunity to come together and use their equipment before they have to use it in a real-world scenario,” said Cupps.

More than 175 team members tackled a variety of missions on land and in the water, working to locate simulated victims while navigating added challenges like broken boat motors to make the scenarios as realistic as possible.

“They have to evolve and think on their feet,” said Cupps. “They have to radio back to their team to solve these problems just like they would in the real world.”

By the end of the two-day event, participating teams walked away with valuable insight, hands-on experience, and practical lessons that will strengthen their ability to respond swiftly and effectively when real disasters strike.