Kohima: The 7th Nagaland Emergency Preparedness Exercise (NEPEx) 2024, organized by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) under the Home Department of Nagaland, will be conducted on October 24. The exercise, supported by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Home Ministry of India, will simulate an earthquake scenario across the state to assess disaster preparedness.
The NEPEx 2024 aims to simulate extreme disaster situations, such as the collapse of telecom towers, power lines, road blockages, and disruptions in commercial activities. Participants, including schools, offices, and institutions, will engage in a “Drop, Cover, and Hold” drill followed by an organized evacuation to pre-identified safe zones. The Incident Response System (IRS) will also be activated to coordinate response and recovery efforts.
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Observers from the Indian Army, NDMA, and other State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) will monitor the drill. The public is advised not to panic, as the mock drill is part of a state-wide effort to enhance disaster preparedness. The exercise is critical for Nagaland, which lies in Seismic Zone V, making it highly vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, and flash floods.
A Tabletop Exercise will precede the mock drill on October 22 to further sensitize stakeholders. NEPEx 2024 seeks to evaluate disaster response capabilities, enhance preparedness, build capacity, and strengthen coordination among various sectors and communities to create a disaster-resilient Nagaland.
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Addressing a press conference after holding orientation & coordination meeting on October 17 in the presence of NSDMA advisor Z. Nyusietho Nyuthe in Kohima, Johnny Ruangmei, Joint Chief Executive Officer, NSDMA informed.
Mock drill will take place on October 24 from 9:00 AM onwards across Nagaland.
In Kohima, the mock drill will start by sounding the siren bell from PHQ.
Local churches have also been requested to ring church bells in their respective districts.
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