14th August 2019 The National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) in collaboration with Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (MCDEM) New Zealand is currently conducting a three-day exercise writing training here in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
Infrastructure Asset Management Consultant Ms. Lisa Roberts said the “training aims to enable participants to prepare and run emergencies exercises for their organization so that they can have a plan of response processes and make sure they really prepare for a disaster.”
According to Ms. Roberts this is the first time for such exercise to be conducted in Tonga and the participants are chosen from organizations that have a role in responding to a disaster or emergencies.
“They should take away an exercise plan that they can run with their organization to help them prepared.”
Principle Assistant Secretary for Disaster Risk Management for NEMO, Ms. Moana Kioa stated that this training is very practical and activities are hands on experiences, which is very useful for NEMO staff and their stakeholders in emergencies particularly as they are coming closer to the cyclone season in November.
Conducting drills and simulation exercises are an effective way to build awareness of the public especially the most vulnerable communities to natural disasters but also help to test the interoperability of the emergency responders agencies.
Kioa hoped that similar trainings would be conducted in future to allow emergency agencies the opportunity to share responsibilities and ideas on ways to better perform their roles is responding to emergency situations.
We acknowledged the support from the Government of New Zealand through MCDEM.
ENDS
Issued by the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communication