More than 75 Palo Alto volunteers are taking part in a statewide bioterrorism drill this morning. The Golden Guardians drill is a dress rehearsal of first responders and local volunteers to a simulated terror attack at San Jose's HP Pavilion during a two-day concert.

The agent of mass destruction is one of history's most feared pathogens: pneumonic plague. Volunteers from throughout Palo Alto are taking part by roll-playing, everything from nosy reporters to hysterical mothers in search of their children and former City Council members in search of publicity for their political campaigns.

Volunteers are going to an emergency-volunteer center at Cubberley Community Center to offer their help and to a medical and triage center at Mitchell Park, where blue M&Ms are supplied as antibiotics against the dreaded disease.

The drill involves fire, police and emergency personnel, city officials, mental-health officials and ham radio operators, who were coordinating the effort in order to be prepared for any possible bioterror attack. The drill will continue until early afternoon and includes a debriefing session to address Palo Alto's preparedness.

The annual drill has been conducted by the State of California Governor's Office of Homeland Security since 2004.