DRDM and partners test disaster response capacity |11 October 2013

A two-day disaster simulation exercise aimed at testing the national capacity to handle multi-hazard scenarios and coordination between first responders agencies got underway yesterday.
 
Organised by the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) and its partners, the first day of the exercise -- code named ‘Team Spirit 2013’ -- took place at the DRDM headquarters which has been turned into a command centre in case of a disaster. Today the exercise will continue on the field at an undisclosed location.

The exercise is being led by the United Nations Organisation for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Unocha) and all scenarios have been prepared by them.

Two experts in the field from the Unocha, Yolanda Cowan and Tinago Chikoto, are currently in the country to coordinate the exercise and will remain until after the exercise and assist the DRDM with its report.

The exercise has been designed to improve Seychelles’ capability to handle multi-hazard scenarios and to develop and improve national-level reaction to respond to in the case of disasters, test all coordination systems and first responder agencies responses as well and work on lessons learned.

During yesterday’s exercise DRDM’s partners -- the police, the PUC, the Red Cross, the casualty unit of the Seychelles Hospital, the Fire and Rescue Services Agency, telecommunication service provider Cable and Wireless, among others, all came together.

“The aim is for the command centre to receive calls of different disaster scenarios which it handles like it would have in a real disaster,” said DRDM’s public relations and communication officer Regina Prosper.
 
Ms Prosper noted that in the event of a disaster, the immediate and long-term problems for government, local communities and different sectors could be very complex. National disaster simulations are required often to ensure that very little room is left for errors during a real disaster.

Meanwhile Ms Prosper noted that as a result of the exercise some delays may occur in the normal day to day running in the related services in general. She is therefore calling on the public to understand and apologises for any inconvenience caused.

She pointed out that people in real emergencies during the two days of the exercise should contact the service needed as they are all still operating as normal.

She added that the public may observe the exercise in progress but they should allow all those involved to go about their activities undisturbed.