Campus Alert: Disaster Day Training Exercise is November 21

November 14, 2025

On November 21, FGCU will host its second annual Disaster Day Interprofessional Simulation event on campus. During this training exercise, more than 270 students from the Marieb College of Health & Human Services will learn from faculty and area first responders on how best to assess, diagnose, treat, and care for patients in a high-pressure emergency scenario.

Even though it may look and sound like an emergency during the training exercise, Disaster Day is just another example of how FGCU is providing a transformative, learner-centered education to ensure our students are workforce ready.

Because of the nature of the simulation, FGCU will share reminders of the event via email, the fgcu.edu website, institutional social media accounts, digital boards at the entrances to campus, and RAVE text alerts.

What to Expect on Campus:

There are no changes to campus classes or operations. Disaster Day is an event, not a real emergency.
Disaster Day activities will take place in the Cohen Student Union, on Recreation Field 1, and the pathways between the two sites. The Cohen Student Union eateries and the FGCU Bookstore will operate normally, and all roadways and sidewalks on campus will remain open.
Throughout the day, FGCU’s campus will be visited by large, emergency response vehicles. A medical helicopter will land on campus at 10:30 a.m.
Approximately 950 individuals are signed up to participate in the training event, and they will wear vests and/or drawstring bags for easy identification.
The loudest and most visible activities will occur between 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. when more than 300 volunteer actors pretend to be patients in need of medical assistance (or family members of a patient). As part of their roles, actors may scream for help or yell at times during the training exercise.
Here is what to expect related to parking:

Parking Garage 1: First floor will be blocked off for event participants.
Parking Garage 3: In the event of inclement weather, the first floor will be blocked off for event participants.
Parking Lot 8: The lot will be blocked off except for vehicles with a reserved parking permit or a handicap plate or parking permit.

If you are concerned about parking availability, remember that FGCU has commuter lots near Alico Arena and the Sugden Welcome Center.

We look forward to FGCU’s second Disaster Day Interprofessional Simulation providing our students with an innovative educational experience.