National Disaster Management Authority member Dr Muzaffar Ahmad informed that the NDMA was very keen to implement the Model of Emergency Management Exercises (EMEx) in Andhra Pradesh along with Bihar and Assam in the towards Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response to meet the challenges of natural and manmade calamities (Cyclone and Bomb Blasts etc).
Dr Ahmad on Thursday held a review meeting at the State Secretariat with the HoDs and Nodal Officials of various Departments on Commencement of Preparatory Work Shops to impart training to the master trainers for Hyderabad Emergency Management Exercises-2013 (HEMEx) on various important topics so that on completion of training in Hyderabad they become source/trainers for further carrying the training in various districts in next two years. This Work Shop will commence from 3rd July, 2013 for a period of six weeks. He has requested to all the Departments to depute at least five participants from each district. The Training will be conducted for seven days and focused on emergency medical preparedness and critical infrastructure.
He said emergency management in urban areas is a multi stake holder function where number of emergency support functions come together to create the emergency management system. Readiness of this system has been repeatedly challenged by natural and human made disasters, hence conduct of such multi disciplinary exercises would develop the skill focused on emergency management during the casualties while providing an opportunity for local agencies to work together and practice a multi disciplinary coordinated response to a local disaster. This will also help to identify the strengths and weakness of Hyderabad City emergency management plans which would aid the process of appropriate preparedness for response.
Emphasizing the need he said urbanization has opened up unprecedented Socio-Economic opportunities and it has also brought in its wake a significant threat to the urban people that live in an volatile environment which is susceptible to both manmade and natural calamities leading to humanitarian crises keeping in view the vulnerability of the state and also recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad. The conduct of an Emergency Management exercise in Hyderabad City has become significant and all the more essential.
Disaster Management Commissioner Dr T Radha and other Departmental Heads attended the meeting. (INN)