West Virginia University at Parkersburg held an emergency drill Tuesday afternoon to help keep it's students safe.

Several police departments, fire departments and first responders took part in a practice emergency.

The fake emergency included several gunmen entering the school and opening fire.

The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the university's preparedness and how emergency crews respond to a potential campus disaster.

"Nowadays, you here about so many school shootings, you hear of things happening like this type of situation, so we have to be sure that we can not only save other people's lives but also try to keep ourselves out of harm's way and learning is the key, knowing how we're going to act," says Deputy Michael Cochran, Wood Co. Sheriff's Department.

President of WVU-P, Marie Foster-Gnage, says the emergency drill is crucial in being prepared for an actual event.