MUDDY CREEK TWP — Moraine State Park will hold a mock search and rescue training exercise on Sept. 10.

The drill will simulate a scenario where a person has been reported missing somewhere inside the park, something that does happen there and at McConnells Mill State Park from time to time, park Assistant Manager Jake Weiland said.

The park has invited local and regional emergency personnel to participate including volunteer fire departments, municipal police departments, state police, state park personnel for Region 2, state forest personnel for District 8, Allegheny Mountain Rescue, the state Game Commission and college students studying in applicable fields.

It should be a learning experience, even for experienced rescue teams, Weiland said.

“It’s a great opportunity for our search teams locally to get together, to run a drill and reflect what we did well and what locally we can improve upon,” he said.

Responders will be briefed at 9 a.m. and then will disperse into the woods to find the “missing” person. The drill is supposed to be over by 3 p.m.

Weiland said the park will notify Butler County Emergency Services and state police that the drill is happening since they might get calls from concerned residents.

People visiting the park that day will be told that it is a drill, though interacting with members of the public who may have information is also a part of any search and rescue operation, Weiland said.

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources organizes a similar training every year, though this is the first time that Moraine has hosted one. Last year’s training was held at Clear Creek State Forest.