| Danial Norjidi |
THE National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) in cooperation with the Fire and Rescue Department held a simulated table-top exercise yesterday as the first part of the National Disaster Exercise 2017.
The exercise took place at the multi-purpose hall of the Fire and Rescue Services in Berakas.
During the opening ceremony, Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin bin Pengiran Haji Said, the Director of the NDMC in his speech said the annual simulated table-top exercise was “one of the ongoing peace-time activities carried out to enhance the capability of the NDMC and related agencies in carrying out disaster operations”.
The director said previous exercises were only held at the district level, with the cooperation of District Offices. This year’s exercise involved “large-scales disaster scenarios which require the involvement of agencies and resource havoc at both district and national levels”.
He explained that the exercise aimed to update the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in disaster management, taking into account lessons learnt from the Asean Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2016 (ARDEX-16) held in Brunei Darussalam from November 29 to December 1 last year.
Participants during the simulated table-top exercise, first part of this year’s National Disaster Exercise
Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin bin Pengiran Haji Said, the Director of the NDMC delivering his speech. – PHOTOS: DANIAL NORJIDI
In addition, the exercise also aimed to: test the level of disaster management mechanisms at a district level (Level 1) and at a national level (Level 2); identify operational gaps for SOPs used by all agencies, particularly action agencies for revision and update purposes; as well as to test the NDMC-based Disaster Command Centre (DCC) system with the District Emergency Operation Centres (DEOCs) in every district.
The exercise was also intended to expand the Incident Command System (ICS) to ensure coordination, flow of commands and control, and effective cooperation among government and non-government agencies in managing disasters, he shared.
“Hopefully, through this exercise, integrated efforts and cooperation among various agencies will be strengthened and enhanced, besides providing an opportunity to identify the capabilities of existing disaster operation assets. At the same time, all those involved will know the country’s capacity and capability in implementing a whole-of-nation approach to address natural and man-made disasters.”
The exercise saw the involvement of multiple agencies, including the NDMC, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), the Royal Brunei Police Force, the National Security Coordination Centre, the Emergency, Medical and Ambulance Service (EMAS), District Offices, the Public Works Department, the Information Department, the Community Development Department, the Department of Electrical Services, the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation, Brunei Shell Petroleum, the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Department, the Tutong Municipal Board, the National Service Programme (PKBN), and the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society.
It was also shared in a press release from the NDMC that the next National Disaster Exercise 2017 will be held in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) format to test the implementation of integrated operations at district and national levels by all relevant agencies, especially the action agencies, and will see the deployment of resources and logistical assets at the scene.
The post NDMC holds simulation for large scale disaster appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.