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If you hear sirens in every direction or spot police cruisers racing through intersections at the end of October, don’t panic — it’s a test.
For three days, Oct. 27–29, 2025, the Dallas-Fort Worth region will turn itself into a proving ground for emergency response. The exercise, known as Metro X, will simulate coordinated terrorist attacks and mass casualty events across multiple cities — a scenario designed to stretch the region’s emergency systems to their limits.
Police and fire departments, paramedics, hospitals, dispatch centers, school districts, and city officials will all take part. The goal: to see how well North Texas can communicate, coordinate, and move as one in a crisis.
Residents near exercise sites may hear simulated gunfire or see emergency responders treating mock victims. Officials are asking the public not to be alarmed and to follow any instructions from participating agencies.
These sites will be part of the operation during Metro X:
- Plano Fire-Rescue Training Center, 4637 McDermott Road, Plano — Monday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to noon
- Amon G. Carter Stadium at Texas Christian University, 2850 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth — Monday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m. to noon
- Frederick P. Herring Parks and Recreation Center, 191 Civic Circle, Lewisville — Wednesday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments is a regional planning body founded in 1966 that coordinates emergency preparedness efforts among sixteen North Texas counties. Its mission is to help local governments work together, eliminate duplication, and plan for the future.
“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.”
For more information about NCTCOG’s programs, visit www.nctcog.org/trans.
