NEMO Conducts Emergency Response Equipment simulation workshop

THE NATIONAL Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), in collaboration with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has just concluded a fourday Emergency Response Equipment Simulation Exercise workshop as part of the preparedness programme for the predicted above-average 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season. This workshop which commenced on Monday June 13, 2022 focussed on the critical and immediate actions to be taken to ensure efficient and effective emergency logistics coordination and management of essential relief items in a disaster, a release from NEMO states.

As part of the workshop, national institutions involved in emergency response in the country, including security forces, cadets and personnel from various government departments were brought up to date on the role of CDEMA and its Regional Response Mechanism (RRM), (WFP) Caribbean, and the National Disaster Management System. This was done during a classroom session held at the Seventh Day Adventist Mission conference room on Monday June 13, 2022.

The following day, participants were engaged in hands-on physical training on the setup of the mobile storage units (MSU) donated by the WFP for use in future crises following the explosive eruptions of La Soufrière Volcano, and the use of the fire extinguishers. This training took place at the decommissioned E.T Joshua Airport and concluded on Wednesday June 15, with hands on training on the setup of the prefabricated offices donated by the WFP, and the use of generators. This was followed by the breakdown and storage of the mobile storage units and the prefabricated offices.

Participants were engaged in a debriefing and evaluation session yesterday, June 16 followed by a closing ceremony and distribution of certificates at the Seventh Day Adventist Mission conference room at Old Montrose.

This workshop is one of several events taking place across the English-speaking Caribbean to prepare countries to meet the needs of impacted communities should disaster strike.