In anticipation of the Hurricane season of 2010, a National Simulation Exercise (SIMEX 2010) to test the preparedness of the Haitian Civil Protection for emergency response, took place on July 29-30, 2010, with technical and financial support from the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery.
The preparation for this year’s Hurricane season raises a specific emergency concern due to the increased vulnerability of the country in the aftermath of the January 12 Earthquake.
The exercise tested the decision making process and the coordination effectiveness between the three levels of the Civil Protection system (national, departmental, and municipal) during the phases of alert and evacuation, following severe floods originated by a cyclone that affected the southern part of Haiti. Three municipalities of the coastal department South-West of Port-au-Prince, Nippes were involved in this exercise (Anse à Veau, Petite Rivière de Nippes and Fonds des Negres). In the municipality of Anse à Veau, a real-life evacuation was carried out, and some 150 inhabitants from a high-risk quarter were rapidly and orderly relocated to a temporary shelter.
The exercise enabled the identification of the main gaps and areas for improvement of the emergency response system, which allows addressing these promptly, in view of the 2010 hurricane season (which is most active between August and October).
“The SIMEX 2010 has substantially reinforced the capacity of our department, helping us identify the issues that can be addressed immediately, especially through the use of the new communication technologies” – said Mr. Jamil Vincent, Nippes Department Delegate, who leads the Civil Protection in the Department. The simulation exercise was followed by a formal debriefing session and the presentation of a report drawing lessons that will be used as the stepping stone to strengthen the system’s preparedness to the upcoming natural hazards.
Simulation exercises: Simulation exercises are conducted as part of the Emergency Response Planning Process. They enable evaluating the efficiency of the emergency plans, testing tools and systems and assessing the capacity of the staff involved in the emergency plan implementation. They are a unique training opportunity for emergency staff as well as a venue to raise the awareness of risk-prone populations/communities. In Haiti, through the multiple Hurricane seasons, simulation exercises have proved to be effective in improving the preparedness, the understanding of response mechanisms, and the capacity of the key actors to manage the crisis, while developing their ability to work in teams.