7th Indian Ocean Wave Exercise (IOWAVE) 2023 |05 October 2023
Exercise enhances disaster response coordination
What are the steps to be followed when there is a natural disaster? Who does what? How do we coordinate our actions to keep the people safe?
All these were discussed during the 7th Indian Ocean Wave Exercise (IOWave) 2023 – a 12-hour simulation exercise held at the STC conference room.
To date, six IOWave exercises have been conducted – in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020. The exercises have been designed to test the receipt and dissemination of tsunami notifications along national tsunami warning chains, as well as test appropriate responses aligned with pre-established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Yesterday’s tabletop exercise simulated a tsunami in the region and witnessed how different entities collaborated effectively in response to the threat.
This exercise was being coordinated by the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD), which has also established a National Coordination Committee (NCC), responsible in the successful preparation and execution of the Indian Ocean Wave Exercise. Unesco is also a key stakeholder in the organisation of such a programme.
IOWave23 is an exercise to simulate Indian Ocean countries being put in a tsunami threat situation and its primary objective is to have the National Tsunami Warning Centre (Seychelles Meteorological Authority) and the National and/or Local Disaster Management Offices (Local Government and Community Affairs) and the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) in each country to implement their standard operating procedures associated with their national tsunami warning chains.
Daniel Cetoupe, chief risk management officer at DRMD, took on the role of moderator for this exercise. He highlighted the purpose of a tabletop exercise, which brings together representatives from various ministries, departments, and agencies to enhance their understanding of response coordination, communication, and the effective utilisation of all available resources.
“The exercise was conducted in real time, with updates continuously provided by the Seychelles Meteorological Authority. Various scenarios and events were introduced to gauge the responses of the participating entities,” he said.
Mr Cetoupe noted that with this exercise they are able to review their protocols and fill in the gap as they go along. The exercise was observed by an observer panel consisting of members from the National Coordination Committee (NCC).
The specific objectives of Exercise IOWave23 are to validate: procedures in place to ensure tsunami warnings get to all in the community, including those with disabilities, all genders, elderly, and youth; Level of community awareness, preparedness, and response; SOPs within countries for generating and disseminating tsunami warnings to their relevant emergency response agencies, media, and the public; SOPs within countries for the issuing of public safety messages, ordering evacuations and where possible issuing all-clear messages.
DRMD opted to commence with the tabletop exercise this year, with plans to conduct a functional exercise later this month.
The accompanying photos show some highlights of the tabletop exercise.
Vidya Gappy
Photos: Joena Meme
