BRYAN COUNTY, OK -- Officials put their emergency response plans to the test today Thursday, holding a mock drill to respond to a hypothetical disaster.

Emergency Manager James Dalton said they spent the day planning out how they would respond to a deadly tornado. They also worked out any kinks in communication they encountered.

Dalton presented the 1957 Durant tornado to a room full of county officials.

He said he wanted to prove a point by choosing a historical disaster.

"Well it's happened before," he said. "We look at that as the fact that we're not fabricating something. It's not an 'if' but a 'when.'"

Dalton said this is the first drill they've conducted in years...but he hopes to make it an annual event.