Officials from federal, state and local governments are preparing for the upcoming Southern Crossing exercise.

The exercise will demonstrate what each agency should do in the event of a hazardous accident.

The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration is leading the exercise. They're preparing for such incidents as a radioactive traffic accident.

In the event of an emergency, local EMA officials will respond first, and then call state officials and state officials will call federal aid if needed.

"The federal and state entities are coming in to assist transportation, radiation-type accident. They will give us information that we, as a local group, are not able to, and we will take it and make protection decisions for the public and environment," said Clark Matthews Houston County EMA.

The "Southern Crossing" exercise is a five-day event, scheduled for August 14 through the 18th.