Earthquakes are our biggest threat, says CS

Our Correspondent

Kohima, August 22 (EMN): Chief Secretary Pankaj Kumar today said the biggest disaster and threat that Nagaland faces and anticipates is from earthquakes, as the state lies on the Seismic Zone V.

According to the top bureaucrat, earthquakes are a major issue for the state and they remain an ever present danger as the present state of human knowledge does not allow prediction of this form of natural calamity, therefore, the people have to be prepared in whatever way they can. He said this while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the state level two-day capacity development program on Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) – incident response system and ‘table-top exercise’ at the Administrative Training Institute (ATI).

Kumar said events like the NEPEx would enhance the state’s preparedness to any form of disaster with a view to minimise loss of human lives.

Talking about the different forms of disasters that the state has faced during the last three years which have caused tragedies, the chief secretary recalled these had come in the form of earthquakes, landslides, cloudbursts, flash floods, episodes of lightning etc., resulting in loss of lives and properties. Towards this, he emphasized on the need to periodically review the state’s preparedness to combat such calamities.

The chief secretary also maintained that while the state has, over the years, upped its capacity to face disasters- from training of police personnel and village guards to the setting up of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) which is now activated in eight (8) districts, there is still much to be done.

Pointing out that those holding critical positions in the government sector must be fully prepared to face any eventuality, Kumar asked the participating bureaucrats and heads of departments at the programme to learn and put to good use the capacity gained.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, OSD Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), Johnny Ruangmei said the two-day event is a run-up to the proposed state-wide mock drill slated to be held on August 30, with the objective to qualify the capability of the state to manage any major impending disaster and ensure a coordinated system to respond to the same.

The official said this exercise to test the preparedness of each district was necessitated in view of the fact that many pockets of the state were still lacking in communication connectivity, such as the Phokhungri area under Meluri sub-division, among several others.

The NEPEx aims to develop and strengthen awareness, preparedness, response and recovery plan; capacity building of emergency support function and practice of standard operation procedure (SOP); to create awareness and to build linkages and coordination among multi-stakeholders about disasters and their impact, and in responding to such events.

The inaugural programme was chaired by DG Prisons, Home Guards & Civil Defence, Rupin Sharma. Administrative Heads of Departments, Heads of Departments, District Administrators and others are participating in the progaramme.

On August 29, a table top exercise to sensitize stakeholders will be carried out in all the 11 districts precluding the main NEPEx. On D-day, the state emergency operation centre and district emergency operation centre will be activated before and during the NEPEx while a third party will be invited to be observers (from Indian Army, National Disaster Management Authority or other state DMAs).

As per the NSDMA, Hazard Risk Venerable Assessment (HRVA) of each district shall be carried out and information shall be used for the NEPEx. It also informed that NEPEx will be organised annually during different seasons of the year to acclimatise and build resilience to different extreme weather conditions throughout the year, and the report and documentation of ‘lessons learnt’ from every NEPEx will be incorporated for adoption in the following NEPEx.

NEPEx modus operandi for August 30

• Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) shall commence with an emergency siren at the state capital, district headquarters, sub-divisional headquarters, block headquarters, villages and institutions.
• Immediately people in the schools and institutions/offices shall respond by method of ‘Drop, Cover and Hold’.
• Every person will continue to ‘Drop, Cover and Hold’ for 2 minutes until the siren is sounded for the second time.
• After the second siren, all stakeholders who are ‘dropping and holding’ will vacate to safer place (pre-identified safe zone) covering their heads with their hands or any hard object.
• For response and recovery, the Incident Response System (IRS) shall be strictly complied by all the stakeholders.