The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety simulated a biological disaster Monday at Erickson Hall.

The unannounced training drill was part of a two-part program on safety and emergency preparedness MSU police will be conducting this week across campus.

At 1:34 p.m., police units responded to a mock dispatch that announced a "suspected biological agent at Erickson Hall on the first floor."

Building alarms sounded and within four minutes all 200 people inside were evacuated according to Emergency Management Assistant Coordinator Dan Caulkett.

A team of crime scene investigators who are part of the department's Rapid Assessment Team were outside Erickson practicing setting up an emergency tent. The tent, which includes pumps, filters and showers, will serve emergency response units with an area to safely and privately clean off any victims of a biological or chemical attack on campus.

Lieutenant Penny Fischer said the drill was completed successfully and will help officials and first responders practice for similar events in the future.

"The drill we're doing today is to prepare us for exercises we're going to attempt to do in August," Fischer said.

A larger scale emergency drill, joined by the East Lansing Fire Department, will take place in August on campus. The exact place and date have yet to be specified.