CATEGORY:SIMULATION EXERCISE
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By Rawle Titus (NaDMA Communications Officer)


September 21, 2006 - The National Disaster Management Agency on Tuesday September 19 coordinated yet another simulation exercise, as Grenada continues to fine-tune security preparations to host matches for Cricket World Cup 2007.

The Grenadian Rex Resorts was the site of this latest exercise, which ran for about an hour Tuesday afternoon and involved workers, hotel guests, Police, SSU, and The Fire Department.

The simulation took the form of a bomb scare and was played out in the presence of the local media.

It was primarily designed to test first responders and how they would deal with a threat of such nature.

The exercise included an anonymous call to the Hotel to make the threat, the report from the hotel to the police, the Police Investigation, the evacuation of guests and workers as well as procedures such as head count to ensure workers and guests are accounted for.

NaDMA views this type of activity as important learning exercises that can only serve to augment our standards regarding emergency procedures on the island.

A debriefing session has concluded that while there were some areas in the simulation, which could have been carried out more efficiently, the overall exercise was quite satisfactory.

Recently, a simulation exercise testing security’s ability to transfer a group of VIP from a local hotel to an out of town cricket venue was staged, while another involved a bomb explosion at the St. George’s Bus terminal.

More simulation exercises are expected to be staged as overall emergency procedures continue to be upgraded.