ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada - American Airlines, Amerijet, Tropical Shipping, and others, partnered with Tradwinds 2016 to help bring real-life experience and training to disaster relief operations in Grenada. Phase one of the multi-national maritime security and disaster response exercise is being hosted by Grenada from June 4 through June 14. In the 32 years of the event this was the first time non-governmental organizations participated.
“The challenges we face in this region can not be addressed by any one nation or any one organization,” said Nivia Butler, the chief of the public private cooperation division of U.S. Southern Command. “In order to have an effect disaster response we need a whole society approach. That involves both the public and private sector as well as the local community.”
For the exercise, disaster scenarios were designed to test the efficiency of the National Emergency Operations Center and also allow the companies involved to review their operating procedures.
American Airlines and Amerijet worked with the Maurice Bishop International Airport to simulate a scenario in which a tsunami devastated the island. The airport, along with American Airlines, was overrun with citizens and tourists attempting to leave the country. In addition to American Airlines’ need for crowd control, Amerijet had unsolicited food and clothing items on the runway and it needed to be cleared by customs prior to being moved.
Tropical Shipping partnered with Seaport Authorities to give NEOC a scenario in which ships were full of disaster relief supplies, however, clearance was needed before unloading the cargo.
The National Emergency Operations Center had to manage and prioritize the appropriate responses to the scenarios and other consequences of the disaster. The goal was for the private sector companies to keep stress on the NEOC to simulate a real-life scenario.
Not only did Tradewinds and NEOC benefit from the partnership but also so did the companies involved.
“We believe it’s our responsibility as a major company to make sure at all times not only do we react to disasters but we are prepared for what is required of us after a disaster,” said Cheney Joseph, island manager of Tropical Shipping. “I believe the Grenadian people, the private sector, the government and the NEOC should embrace Tradwinds. We should not allow this to just be a statistical exercise.”
The private sectors integration into Tradewinds has been evolving for years, according to Butler. It is her hope the evolution doesn’t stop after Tradewinds.
“Working hand-in-hand, hopefully both our private sector partners and southern command can really get the region to start implementing better disaster response procedures,” said Butler.
Phase II of Tradewinds 2016 will be hosted in Jamaica from June 20 to 28, 2016.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2016 10:12 |
| Story ID: | 201353 |
| Location: | GD |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, NGOs Participate In Tradewinds 2016, by SSG Amy Jacobson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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