The Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA), under the Home Department, Government of Nagaland, has urged citizens to actively participate in the upcoming statewide Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) 2024.

NEPEx 2024 is part of NSDMA’s ongoing efforts to make Nagaland a safer, more resilient state in the face of natural calamities. Through this exercise, NSDMA aims to ensure that both the government and the public are better prepared to minimize risks, reduce damage, and safeguard lives during emergencies.

Reminding that Nagaland is situated in Seismic Zone V and is highly vulnerable to natural calamities such as earthquakes, landslides, flash floods, thunderstorms, hailstorms, and forest fires, the Authority has said that NEPEx is a vital platform to raise awareness, build capacity, and strengthen coordination among various government agencies, civil society, and the general public.

Objectives of NEPEx 2024

1. Evaluate Disaster Response Capabilities: The exercise will test the state’s ability to respond swiftly and efficiently to a disaster.
2. Enhance Preparedness and Awareness: It will strengthen the preparedness plans at the community level while raising awareness about the importance of disaster management.
3. Capacity Building: NEPEx will focus on the capacity building of Emergency Support Functions (ESF) and ensure that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are practiced across all sectors.
4. Multi-Stakeholder Coordination: The exercise will foster stronger collaboration and communication between various stakeholders, including government departments, civil society organizations, and communities.

Key Activities

NEPEx 2024 will commence with the sounding of an emergency siren across all major locations, including the State capital and district headquarters. Participants, including schools, offices, and other institutions, will engage in a Drop, Cover, and Hold drill for two minutes, followed by an organized evacuation to pre-identified safe zones. The Incident Response System (IRS) will be activated to ensure a coordinated approach to response and recovery efforts.

Additional activities will include:

– Tabletop Exercises: A prelude to NEPEx, aimed at sensitizing stakeholders. In the State capital this will be conducted on the 22nd October 2024 at Capital Convention Hall, Kohima.

– Community First Responder Training: Designed to equip local communities with the skills to manage disasters before external help arrives.

Participation and Observers

Key government officials, departments, and agencies, alongside civil society organizations and local communities, will actively participate in NEPEx 2024. Observers from the Indian Army, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and other State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) have been invited to monitor the exercise.

Read more: 7th Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) 2024 to be conducted on 24th Oct