Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) – Home Department will be conducting a state wide mega mock drill of Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) on April 26 to test the capability of the government of Nagaland to respond to and manage disaster. The drill will be conducted in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
With the state gearing up for the mock drill, district administrations have been making preparations to ensure that the exercise is a coordinated success.
Kohima: NSDMA has urged the public to note that on April 26, 2018, churches across Kohima would ring bells to announce the beginning of the mock drill. The Church bells would ring for three minutes and immediately people in the schools, institutions and offices will respond by method of “Drop, Cover and Hold.” A second alarm will be rung after two minutes after which all stakeholders, who executed the “Drop, Cover and Hold”, would evacuate to safer places covering their heads with their hands or any hard object.
Further, NSDMA has requested the public to not spread rumours of impending earthquake/disaster, which could cause fear psychosis. “NEPEx is only a preparedness exercise and is not a warning of any impending disaster,” NSDMA stated.
Dimapur: DDMA Dimapur held an emergency meeting April 23 at the DCs conference hall Dimapur, to discuss the NEPEx mock drill.
A DIPR report said that the meeting, chaired by ADC Dimapur Sara Jamir, discussed issues relating to staging areas, relief camps, ambulance services, traffic, medical team, law and order, EOC, communication, transportation and other areas of concern while conducting the NEPEx exercise.
In the meeting, it was decided that no prior traffic control arrangements would be made on the day as it would be during a real life situation. Similarly, the locations for sending ambulances will also be decided on the spot. It was also decided that relief camps and a staging area would be set up at the same location.
It was decided that mock drill exercises would be conducted at different sites including St. Mary’s Montessori School, Hill Star Cinema Hall, City Centre Shopping Mall and Noton Basti. DEO, Police, DMC and administrative officers are to coordinate with Home Guards for successful conduct of the mock drills at these locations.
In the meeting, DPRO Dimapur, Lolano Patton screened a 24 minute documentary of the 2017 Dimapur NEPEx exercise so that members could assess their performances and identify areas of improvement.
Longleng: A review meeting of the Longleng District Disaster Management Authority was held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner (DC), John Tsulise Sangtam at DCs’ conference hall.
According to DIPR, the DC, while welcoming the members present, asserted that it was important for all government departments under the disaster management to be aware of their roles and responsibilities during disasters and to minimize the loss of lives and property. He urged all officers to be serious and sincere with their respective responsibilities to ensure that mock drill exercise itself does not become a disaster.
John appealed to the members to be aware about monsoon related disasters and urged the officers to submit verification reports of disasters and applications of beneficiaries on time.
It was decided at the meeting that the mega mock exercise would be conducted at four locations. Manpower and inventory requirements were framed for the exercise “despite shortage of manpower and machineries”. The final briefing of the mega mock drill exercise will be held on April 25 at DC’s conference hall. The DC directed all heads of departments to be present for the final briefing on the day.
Wokha: ADC, Wokha, Nokchasashi has informed the public that six sites have been identified as disaster incident bases namely: Mt. Tiyi College Wokha (building collapse); Dr. Motsuo Memorial Hospital (patient treatment); Police Point (DC Office Junction) (building collapse); Little Angle School (evacuation drill); Mt. Sinai School (fire) and; WTC shopping complex. During the mock drill, locality assessment, treatment, movement of patients to safe zones will be part of the exercises. The general public has been directed to not panic and avoid confusion and chaos during the mock drill. (DIPR)
Mokokchung: DC & Chairman MDDMA called a meeting on April 20 at ADC (planning) conference hall to finalize roles and responsibilities of various teams for the exercise.
The exercise will be conducted assuming a mock 8.4 magnitude earthquake in the state with casualties and severe damage to buildings and roads. Several places and wards have been selected in town for the preparedness exercise such as evacuation, rescue, relief and rehabilitation.
Another meeting will be held on April 25 to discuss the matter further and to ensure that all sections function in tandem under the Incident Response Team’s structure. MDDMA has informed the general public to not panic or create unnecessary chaos during the mock emergency preparedness exercise on April 26. (DIPR)