As part of the hurricane season, preparations are underway for the implementation of beginning of the simulation exercises (SIMEX). These exercises are part of the existing emergency planning process and will allow to test the updated contingency plans and train all bodies involved in crisis management in case of cyclones. This national exercise is also an important vehicle for awareness.

These exercises will begin on July 9 in the department of Nippes or not less than 300 people will be mobilized on 5 sites, said Ariel Henry, Minister of Interior and Territorial Communities, adding that the realization of these exercises that gradually affect the whole territory are funded up to 80,000 US dollars by the World Bank and the United Nations development Programme (UNDP).

With the SIMEX 2015, the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC), aware of the need to support people to understand the risks they face and be prepared to recover from an emergency situation, wants to minimize the effects of disasters. For that, it launched its first series of awareness activities: four Fridays of civil protection and two urban observations. These activities cover five communes whose Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Cap-Haitien, Lascahobas and Léogâne. Aimed at both school and community audiences, these actions aim to develop a culture of resilience to major natural hazards and to behave well during emergency relief operations. They allow people to identify the risks that may affect their environment and encourage them to change their perception in relation the latter.

This rendezvous of Friday identifies problems that may face a population during a disaster and popularizes good practices developed to survive to it. Urban observations put an emphasis on the empirical identification of risk factors by members of a community and finding solutions for their mitigation.

These actions represent a concrete effort of the DPC to support people in a perspective of resilience and responsibility towards their environment. However, the DPC, through the Committee education and public awareness, will continue this work in the long term in order to avoid losing the results already achieved.

According to the seasonal forecast, hurricane season this year should have a moderate activity. However, Ronald Semelfort, the Director of the National Meteorological Center, said that these long-term forecasts lacked precision to effectively meet the requirements of the DPC and that vigilance therefore remained in force.

HL/ HaitiLibre