ST. LOUIS – There is a lot of bustle around Busch Stadium this week, but it’s not from Cardinals fans.

If you’ve noticed military vehicles and personnel around downtown Monday, don’t be alarmed, it is just a drill.

Dense Urban Terrain Emergency Exercises are taking place around downtown St. Louis over the next few days. This marks the first time the city has hosted the multi-day training session led by the Michigan National Guard in conjunction with the Missouri National Guard.

Both are facilitating disaster response exercises, with around 600 people participating as live actors. There are 35 different agencies that aid in the training, including national guard units, fire and police departments, the EPA, and FEMA.

“You can sleep a little bit better at night knowing your city is taking this seriously, and we’re having an exercise like this to prepare for that. Not every city does,” Maj. Kelly Hudson said.

The training centers on a simulated response to structural damage, civilian casualties, and chemical contamination during a baseball game. Additionally, training covers river crossings along the Mississippi River between St. Charles and Grafton in the event that bridges become damaged.

But the best advice during an event like this is to stay put.

“Follow the advice of your local first responders and city officials. Do what they say, because they really do have plans in place for every event,” Hudson said. “They’ve got your best interest at heart.”

Several staging areas have been set up around the city, including the use of military helicopters and vehicles, damaged vehicles, and debris.

Eighth Street and Clark Avenue by Busch Stadium will remain closed to traffic during the day through Wednesday. Drills are not open to the public and the hosts ask downtown visitors to respect the servicemen as they are being trained.