Arlington Police, Fire to Join Regional Emergency Response Exercise

Published on October 22, 2025

By the Office of Communication

Arlington first responders will be among 2,500 local, state and federal representatives participating next week in the MetroX Regional Preparedness Exercise, the largest training initiative ever conducted in North Central Texas.

The MetroX Regional Preparedness Exercise is a full-scale, multi-jurisdictional event designed to simulate a complex, coordinated terrorist attack and mass casualty incidents across several locations. The three-day training event will take place Oct. 27-29, 2025, and will involve police and fire departments, emergency medical services, hospitals, school districts, dispatch centers, emergency managers and city officials from across the region. This exercise is designed to evaluate and strengthen interagency coordination, communication and decision-making during a complex, high-threat incident—an essential step in preparing the region for major events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“MetroX is one of the largest regional exercises coordinated by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Emergency Preparedness Department and regional public safety teams,” NCTCOG Executive Director Todd Little said. “This will help test our systems, plans and capabilities to ensure we are ready as a region for any large incident or disaster.”

Some of the exercises, which are designed to simulate real emergencies, will be held at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. There, public safety crews will train on complex, high-intensity scenarios that include technical rescue, hazardous materials, explosive ordnance disposal and the use of unmanned aerial systems. Residents around Six Flags Over Texas may see and hear simulated gunfire, emergency vehicles, role players acting as victims and increased first responder activity around the training site. The public is asked to not be alarmed and to follow instructions provided by participating agencies if they are near one of the exercises.

MetroX, which will bring together more than 80 local, state and federal partners, was developed through the North Central Texas emergency management partnership to enhance regional readiness and strengthen interoperability among public safety agencies. The project is federally funded through the State Homeland Security Program and administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments with support from the FEMA National Exercise Program. The Arlington Fire Department played a key role in writing and securing the federal grant that made the MetroX project possible.