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February 2005                                                                            Volume 8 - Number 1

Guest Perspectives...

National Full Scale Exercise in Guatemala Event: Earthquake

By Walter Wintzer, Education and Training Manager, Executive Secretariat of the National Coordinating Office for Disaster Reduction

Guatemala in Central America has approximately 13 million inhabitants, on February 4,1976, 23 000 people were killed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake (Richter magnitude), leaving economic losses estimated in one thousand million US dollars.

Three tectonic plates gather together in Guatemala: Cocos-, North American- and Caribbean Plate. This complex tectonic setting of Guatemala and Central American countries implies a high seismic risk.

The Executive Secretariat of the National Coordinating Office for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED), as the leading organization for disaster prevention and emergency management in Guatemala, carried out a full scale exercise based on a simulated earthquake on last December 8, 9 and 10. 7000 people from private and public sectors participated during 72 hours at the 23 scenarios placed for this exercise in different areas around the country (eight departments: Guatemala, Baja Verapaz, Zacapa, Jutiapa, Escuintla, Quetzaltenango, Quiché y Petén).

This exercise was carried out as part of the national training activities related to emergency response preparedness. Today, experts have concluded that a magnitude 7.5 earthquake would cause three times more damage than in 1976.

This was a very good opportunity to reinforce different response levels, interinstitutional coordination and communication systems. At the same time, the activities carried out helped to strengthen links between different national and international organizations. The exercise was carried out with the technical support of ADEM, Arkansas Department for Emergency Management and financial support of OFDA, US Office for Foreign Disaster Affairs. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs sent a team to participate in this exercise. Search and Rescue brigades were sent from neighbor countries like El Salvador and Honduras.

The objectives of this exercise were:

1. To evaluate and validate procedures and protocols on activation, functioning and deactivation of the Emergency Operations Centers, EOC at the departmental and national level.

2. To evaluate communication quality and procedures between the National and Departmental Emergency Operations Centers.

3. To evaluate communication procedures and quality between the Departmental Emergency Operations Centers and the Incident Command Systems placed at the different scenarios.

4. To determine disaster response capability and resources availability at the departmental level.

The National exercise was planned during many months and included the development of basic tools to design Emergency Plans at the departmental level, creation of eight Departmental Emergency Operation Centers, EOC, training of EOC staff and training of field responders in operative procedures related to the Incident Command System.

Results of the exercise assessment have indicated that first response procedures, in a high percentage, were executed properly. Aspects related to coordination, communication, correct application of emergency response manuals and guidelines and the active interinstitutional participation showed a high standard of responsibility and conscience among the members of the Guatemalan system for disasters reduction.

Some aspects have to be reinforced: the National Response Plan, communications systems, information fluidity, first response system and equipping of the Departmental Emergency Operations Centers.

The National Full Scale Exercise concluded successfully and made evident the disaster response capacity level of Guatemala, some aspects are been carried out properly some others have to be improved. The Executive Secretariat of the National Coordinating Office for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED) has the responsibility of watching over the proper implementation of actions, plans and programs in order to reduce disasters in the Republic of Guatemala.