The inter-agency exercise aims to enhance the inter-operability among the partner institutions. The exercise is designed with a scenario of a hurricane affecting the Eastern Sub-Regional Group and an earthquake affecting the Southern Sub Regional Group.
“Thus far the exercise has proven to be informative and enlightening as participants’ awareness on regional and global mechanisms have been enhanced” said Ms. Joanne Persad, Programme Manager Preparedness and Response. “Overall, this is intended to improve efficiency, coordination and response support to the countries of the region”.
In keeping with the need to coordinate disaster management across the region, the importance of this exercise is to ensure that agencies operating in the Caribbean are prepared to respond to a regional crisis situation. The exercise simulates a major hurricane that results in grave consequences and damages to people, main transit routes and infrastructure; triggering the regional response mechanism and requiring international humanitarian assistance. The simulation also tests the CDEMA Regional Coordination Plan (RCP), the Regional Coordination Centre (RCC) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the CDEMA CU Contingency Plan, the Eastern Sub Regional Coordinating Centre SOPs, the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group Operations Orders, and the National Disaster Plans for members of the Eastern Sub region.
The simulation activities include a two-day table-top exercise. Countries participating in the exercise include representatives from the National Disaster Offices from Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. Other institutions present and involved are PAHO and UNDP Barbados. National stakeholders include the Red Cross, Lions Club of Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda Customs and Excise, Farmers Association among others. Also included is a demonstration of an exercise simulation software designed by the C4i, a Canadian based company.
The Preparedness and Response Department is the lead within the CDEMA CU to design, plan and execute the exercise.
For further information, please contact:
Clive Murray
Communication and Education Specialist
CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (CDEMA)
Resilience Way, Lower Estate
St. Michael
BARBADOS
Tel #: (246) 434-4880
Fax #: (246) 271-3660
Email: