U.S and Guyana exchange information for disaster response

Jul 02, 2015 News

The U.S. Embassy’s Security Cooperation Office, together with representatives from the Florida National Guard, held an Emergency Operation Disaster Management Conference at the newly custom-built

Members of the Florida National Guard, GDF, GPF, CDC, GFS, GPS and Ministry of Health.

Emergency Operation Centre located in Timehri, Guyana.
U.S and Guyana exchanged information on disaster response which is a mission to get the country up to standard in disaster relief, along with enhancing Guyanese interagency partnerships and knowledge of disaster risk management.
The conference included a table top exercise (TTX) with a scenario that guided participants through a collaborative discussion on disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery for local and country-wide disasters within Guyana. The TTX scenario’s presented a myriad of realistic threats such as fire, drought, flooding and oil spill disaster in different regions within Guyana.
This activity is the second of its kind to be held in Guyana by a State Partnership Program. Improved internal collaboration between the Civil Defence Commission CDC and supporting agencies is expected to be the outcome of this conference.
Participants left with a better understanding of partner agency relationships and roles in disaster response using a worst-case scenario TTX with multiple threat response requirements. This event also strengthened the relationship between the U.S. and Guyana by setting the stage for a more robust Emergency Disaster Management Conference for next year.
The Emergency Operation Centre was a gift from U.S. Southern Command. It opened in April. This year’s Disaster Management Conference was the first event of its kind to be held at the Emergency Operation Center.
Participants of the conference included members of the Florida National Guard, Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Guyana Fire Services, Ministry of Health and Guyana Prison System.