(IOM)-Dominica’s Office of Disaster Management (ODM) and the National Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will conduct an evacuation simulation exercise (#SIMEX2022) this Thursday and Friday
16 and 17 June 2022. The purpose of the simulation exercise will be to test the standard procedures for
emergency shelter operations, and evacuation of vulnerable people to the purpose-built regional
emergency shelters. This forms part of ODM’s activities for increased resilience, and preparedness during the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season and beyond.
At a recent news conference held at the ODM to recognize the beginning of the 2022 hurricane season,
the Honourable Minister responsible for National Security, Rayburn Blackmore noted that “It’s one thing
to have structures, and plans, but your plans and structures are tested when you have a real event. If we
are not able to execute that plan by way of precision, it cannot be a sustainable plan. We have to test our
level of competence in the event that something will happen.”
The Layou Regional Emergency Shelter, which opened in 2020, is one of three purpose-built emergency
shelters built to provide respite for residents of the Western Disaster District who do not have safe options for shelter during an emergency. The regional shelters are also intended to relieve pressure on traditional facilities used during and after disasters, such as schools and churches. The NEPO Emergency Shelter subcommittee has designated the Layou Regional Emergency Shelter for vulnerable residents of Layou and Colihaut who do not have other safe options or places to go in the event of an emergency.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed earlier this month that the 2022
Atlantic Hurricane Season is predicted to be above normal. The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) in
collaboration with the National Emergency Planning Organization (NEPO) partners, continue to advance
Dominica’s efforts toward hurricane preparedness and disaster risk reduction. According to IOM
Dominica’s Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) focal point Maxine Alleyne-Esprit, “No
one is hoping for another Maria but given the forecast for this year’s hurricane season, the increase in
frequency and intensity of storms due to climate change, and Dominica’s general vulnerability also to other natural hazards, our best chance of protecting lives and property if anything happens is to be prepared”.
CCCM, which includes emergency shelter management, is a core area of expertise of IOM globally,
providing support for rights-based responses to displaced people who have been forced to evacuate their homes, and who have nowhere else to go.
IOM is a key partner to the ODM in this activity, providing technical support to SIMEX 2022 through the
Western Hemisphere Program which is generously funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau
of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). In addition, through the support the Global CCCM
cluster, IOM is facilitating regional knowledge sharing between OECS member states, through the
presence and participation of Dr Idelia Ferdinand, the Ministry of Education Liaison to the National
Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), for Shelter Management in St. Vincent & The Grenadines.
The Dominica Red Cross, Dominica Association of Disabled Persons, and CARITAS Antilles are also
supporting the activity.
During the simulation exercise, dubbed #SIMEX2022, various scenarios will be used to test the response
and operating procedures of shelter management teams, to include cross-cutting themes such as genderbased violence, mental health as well as disability and migrant inclusion. “The plan is to test and evaluate our current protocols for emergency evacuation and for emergency shelter operations, particularly withina regional emergency shelter setting. The exercise focusses on a hurricane event however the scenariosare designed to address emergency response operations to any hazard.” ODM Programme Coordinator, Mandela Christian explained, noting that emergency response planning relates not only to hurricanes but
to any hazard.
The simulation exercise will be followed by a debrief and evaluation workshop, where participants and
organizers will be given an opportunity to highlight the successes and best practices. “We hope that the
lessons learned and the recommendations emerging from this exercise will be utilized or will inform our
review and upgrade of our emergency protocols ahead of the peak hurricane season, and that it will
generate some immediate, medium term, and long-term solutions to addressing some of the challenges
that we would have identified”. Mandela Christian, ODM.