NEPEx test preparedness level of state in event of disaster

Dimapur, august 30 (MExN/DIPR): The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority in association with all the District Disaster Management Authority conducted state wide Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise on August 30 simulating earthquake of 8.4 Ritcher scale. The mock exercise was conducted basically to test the preparedness level and capacity of the state in the event of such disaster.

DIMAPUR: In Dimapur, the mock exercise started off with the sounding of the siren at 11.00 am. Thereafter, immediately the Emergency Operation Centre was officially activated at the Deputy Commissioner's conference hall, Dimapur wherein DC Dimapur Kesonyu Yhome called for an emergency briefing of the DDMA Dimapur members and HODs and apprised them of the disaster. Task force teams headed by officers rushed to the most severely affected simulated locations covering Hongkong Market, Vishal Mart, Marwari Patti, Don Bosco School, Nikos Hospital and 8 government offices. After completion of the mock drill, debriefing was held at the DCs conference hall where GC Khanal from Sikkim Disaster Management Authority, who was the chief observer, suggested for more training to be imparted to the community stating that they will be the first responders in the event of real disaster. He observed that students and office goers should be trained and mock drills ought to be conducted often. He further commented that NGOs must be involved during the mock drills. An observer also felt the need for giving training to the observers to make them familiarise with the kind of work to be carried out. Another observer felt that in addition to the Home guards, personnel from Mahilas and NAPs can also be involved in the search and rescue operations observing that in real life situation the Home Guard personnel may be less when earthquake of such massive magnitude occurs. Another area of concern expressed by the observers and officials were shortage of emergency ambulances, expansion of wireless communication range etc.

LONGLENG: Mock drill exercise on Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Excise (NEPEx) was held at Longleng on August 30. Mock drill exercise on earthquake was performed in three location namely at a private resident in Hukphang junction, Bautung Government Higher Secondary School and Christian School at the same timing. Later the DC, who is the Responsible Officer, summoned the district level officer at his conference hall. The respective officers reported their activities to the Responsible Officer. They informed the RO about lack of manpower like SRDF team, Doctors and Nurses besides equipments and machineries to response and manage when real disaster strikes Longleng district.

TUENSANG: Nagaland Emergency Preparedness exercise conducted a mega mock drill on simulated 8.5 magnitude earthquake within Tuensang Town. The mock drill started on 11:00 am in the morning and lasted till 2:00 pm in the afternoon. The mock drill was conducted in four places of incidence, viz; DBs Court on high rise rescue, District Agriculture Office on fire incident, Bazaar on search, rescue and evacuation and St. John Higher secondary school for mass evacuation respectively. All the emergency services were deployed for the mega mock drill purposes. The whole activities included 5 local observers and one central observer H. Lalduatta from Mizoram. Debriefing: Responsible Officer and Incident commander over view, Operation section chief and observer’s remark was held at staging area at Loyem ground Tuensang.

PEREN: As part of the state wide Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) Peren district conducted a mock drill. The mock drill was conducted with Incident Response System (IRS) headed by S. Tainiu, ADC Peren. The staging area was at local ground Peren. Earlier, exactly at 11:00 am the siren sounded and all the Incident Response Team gathered at the Emergency Operation Centre, where Zarenthung Ezung, DC Peren & Responsible Officer NEPEx Peren, briefed the team and swung into action. The program ended around 12:30 PM.

PHEK: The Nagaland State Disaster management Authority, Nagaland Kohima conducted Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) on August 29 and 30 at Phek Town. On August 29, the Phek incident Response Team held a programme on Incident Response System at DC’s conference hall with ADC, Incident Commander(IC) K. Mhathang Tsangla as the chairperson. Urban Development Officer Khate-u and District Project Associate Vekuzo were the resource persons. On August Mock Exercises were held at Phek Government College Phek, Higher Secondary School Phek, Bethany-1 colony and Jericho Colony Phek to test the Government to respond and to manage any mega impending Disaster.

MOKOKCHUNG: To develop a higher level of emergency preparedness and response strategies during natural calamities such as earthquake, Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) was conducted at Mokokchung town on August 30. As part of the exercise, an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), consisting of Logistic section, Planning section, Operation section, Relief camp, Medical camp and Incident command post was set up at Imkongmeren Sports Complex. The mock drill got underway from 11:00 am after a briefing from Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung at EOC. Simulating the effect of an earthquake of 8.4 magnitude on the Richter scale, the mock drill was conducted at MMC Complex, MGHSS, DC office Complex and residential area at Arkong ward, where emergency response team were sent to carry out procedural search and rescue, attend to casualties and injured victims, evacuation of casualties to the nearest medical centre. The exercise included fire services and road clearance teams.

MON: Under the directives of Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, the District Disaster Management Authority Mon organized Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) on August 29 and 30 at District HQ Mon. On August 30, an emergency preparedness exercise mock drill was carried out at different allotted locations like GHSS, Kongjong Higher Secondary School, District Hospital, Lucy’s Shopping complex, CMO Office, DEO office, AGM(NST) office, Jahjon & Techahan Ward, Tanlao & Wagiem ward and Chingai & Tompang ward. The drill was carried out with all the administration officers distributed with different parts and responsibilities under operation section, planning section, logistic section and relief section. There were 120 volunteers from Wangkhao Government College and 40 volunteers for community first response from Walo, Jahjon, Wagiem and Tanlao ward.

WOKHA: Wokha District also conducted mock-drill at six locations namely, Police Point (A) & (B), GHSS, DBHSS, Tsumang Colony and Etsuchuka Colony. Rescue Operation and evacuation of injured and casualties during emergency/disaster were demonstrated during the mock exercise. Fire scenario, rescue of high rise unstable building rescue operation and collapsed structure rescue operation were demonstrating in the specified identified locations. Teams from SDRF, Home Guards & Civil Defense, Fire & Emergencies Services, District Administration, Police, Community First Responder (CFR, Lotha Hoho, Lotha Students Union, 28th Assam Rifles, Medical team from District Hospital and members from Wokha District Disaster Management Authority actively participated during the Mock drill. Assistant IT Specialist, State Disaster Management Authority, Ada Lawrence observer for Wokha district monitored the day long mock exercise.

KIPHIRE: Nagaland Disaster Management Authority today conducted Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) Mock Drill at Kiphire in various locations in collaboration DDMA, Line Department, DEF and Para military along with volunteers and students taking part in the whole exercise. Supervising the whole exercise, the Deputy Commissioner Sedevikho Khro expressed gratitude to the line department for giving full co-operation and support for the success of the program. The DC also appealed to the line department to be prepared to face any unfortunate natural calamities. The whole exercise was conducted in two schools, one private resident and one commercial building in the town.

ZUNHEBOTO: Zunheboto district conducted NEPEx mock drill at Local Ground, GMS Old Town, Cornerstone Hr. Sec. School, DC Hill West, Traffic Point and District Hospital involving all the relevant government and private agencies in Zunheboto. The office of Deputy Commissioner and District Hospital were designated as EOC, Staging area and Relief camp. All the protocols contained in the Incident Response System was strictly complied with and followed by all stakeholders. Later, speaking at the debriefing session, Deputy Commandant, 5th Assam Rifles, Ngukato Kiho and DSO, Lhokiye who were designated as Observers expressed optimism that all stakeholders and participants were ready in case of any disasters.