International evaluator lauds CDC for successful Exercise Floodgate

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) successfully conducted its annual Disaster Preparedness and Response exercise – EXERCISE FLOODGATE 2013 during the period October 30-31, 2013.

International evaluator, Brigadier General (retired) Earl Arthurs of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, expressed his satisfaction with the planning and execution of   Floodgate 2013. General Arthurs commended the Director General and Staff of the CDC for their commitment to building the nation disaster risk management capacity and resilience while indicating the importance of Regional Democratic and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils in the DRM process.

Exercise Floodgate was designed to test the state of readiness and capacities of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Georgetown and the Regional Emergency Operations Centers (REOCs) in Regions 2,3,4,5, and 6 during emergencies/disasters. Various hazard impact scenarios were issued to the different regions involved in the exercise and they were required to take appropriate actions in response to the messages received.

The exercise also allowed the CDC, the various regions, and stakeholders – members of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Platform involved in the exercise to test their message handling and communication capacities while at the same time allowing for the testing of relevant policies, procedures, and protocols.

Exercise Floodgate 2013 was the first time all of the coastal regions were tested at once, and the first time temporary emergency shelters were established during any such annual exercise in all of the coastal regions. (CDC)