Cass County’s law enforcement, medical and emergency management teams, with Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), will conduct a mass ground search exercise from 7 a.m. to noon June 23 in Vandalia and the area surrounding the Medical Care Facility on Hospital Street near Cassopolis.

Ground searches are often used when a child, elderly or vulnerable adult is reported missing in a rural area. The ground search on June 23 is expected to test the county’s coordination and search capabilities in the event that a missing person needs to be found.

A preliminary briefing will be held at 7 a.m. June 23 at the 911/Emergency Operations Center, 130 N. Broadway St., Cassopolis. Volunteers and community groups are invited to attend the exercise, which will include a ground search of a wooded area in conjunction with a residential area. Those interested in participating in the exercise must be physically able to conduct search tasks. For more information about the search or to register for participation, call (269) 445-1217.