More than 1,000 in Wisconsin to participate in Dark Sky exercise starting May 15

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) — A full-scale military training exercise simulating a long-term mass power outage in Wisconsin kicks off May 15 at sites around the state. The exercise is called Dark Sky, but there will be no actual power outages.

The exercise runs for three days through the 17th in Brown, Calumet, Dane, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Outagamie and Winnebago Counties and will test the abilities of private utilities, law enforcement, first responders and the National Guard to respond to the scenario.

The public may notice an increase in emergency responder presence including military personnel and equipment and drones.

The exercise includes an Alliant Energy facility in Fond du Lac County, which will serve as one of the National Guard training sites.

“Dark Sky provides an incredible opportunity for our first responders, the National Guard, emergency management officials, and our private utilities industry partners to exercise our processes now so we are better prepared for threats to our power grid,” Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, Wisconsin’s adjutant general said. “Our emergency management community must be prepared to deal with the myriad scenarios and challenges posed by a long-term mass power outage, and by training together, we continue building meaningful relationships that leave us better positioned to respond to a real-world situation.”

More than 1,000 people across the state will participate.