Civil Protection drill aims to test efficiency in response to earthquake situations
The President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the "Bull 2017" drill, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, is mainly intended to manage that "all Civil Protection agents reach the highest degree of efficiency in rescue manoeuvres to the populations in earthquake situations."
Carlos Neves spoke at the press conference for the presentation of this drill, the largest organised by SRPCBA this year. He stressed that "all occurrences" will be conducted as if they were actual situations that will be simulated in "different areas of Terceira Island."
In addition to training the coordination of all Civil Protection agents, this exercise also aims to "train the members of fire brigades, test the level and speed of the response provided by different Civil Protection agents in this type of actions and continue to test the integrated emergency telecommunications network."
"The most dynamic and intense part of the drill will be carried out on November 22 and 23 in a 36-hour time frame, including several scenarios such as destroyed homes, isolated populations and other situations that may occur during an earthquake," Carlos Neves.
The President of SRPCBA called for the importance of the population's participation in this drill, through volunteers and simulated victims, emphasising that Civil Protection "begins with each one of us."
In this context, he considered that this type of drill also serves to prepare people to take action in case of catastrophe.
In addition to the firefighters from the islands of Terceira, Faial, Pico and São Jorge, the activity also involves the following entities: Regional Directorates for Health, Tourism, Public Works and Communications, Housing, Environment, Forest Resources and Tourism, Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory, Azores Social Security Institute and the Centre for Information and Seismovolcanic Surveillance of the Azores.
The drill will also involve both municipal councils of Terceira Island, their municipal Civil Protection services, PSP (Public Security Police), GNR (National Republic Guard), amateur radio associations of Terceira Island and the Azores Operational Command, through its different branches and services.