Northeast Desk, 5th October: The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), is set to conduct the 7th edition of the Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) on October 24, 2024. This year’s drill will simulate an earthquake scenario to assess the state’s disaster readiness and response capabilities.
To ensure a smooth execution of the exercise, a preparatory Orientation and Coordination Meeting will be held on October 9, 2024, via video conference. Key participants will include the Advisor of NSDMA, all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), and various departmental heads. The virtual meeting aims to coordinate efforts and ensure a unified approach across departments.
The NEPEx will involve a sequence of events leading up to the main exercise, as outlined below:
- *October 9, 2024: An *Orientation and Coordination Conference at 11:00 AM with NDMA, involving DDMA Chairpersons, Heads of Departments (HoDs), Assistant Heads of Departments (AHoDs), and Nodal Officers. This session will align strategies for the upcoming earthquake drill.
- *October 22, 2024: A *Table Top Exercise (TTEx) will take place at 10:00 AM at key locations, including the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in Kohima and respective DDMA offices. Participants will include DDMA Chairpersons, relevant officers, and stakeholders such as the *National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), *State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and paramilitary units.
- *October 24, 2024: The main event, a **Mock Exercise, will commence at *9:00 AM. This hands-on simulation will engage all involved personnel, ensuring that each level performs according to their designated roles during the earthquake scenario.
- *October 30, 2024: Each DDMA will submit a *comprehensive report on the NEPEx exercise, both in an online format and as a spiral-bound hard copy.
The NEPEx is a crucial component of Nagaland’s disaster management strategy, designed to strengthen the state’s preparedness and ability to respond swiftly in the event of an earthquake or other emergencies.