DRMD and responder agencies launch emergency operation centres for inner islands |19 December 2022

The Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD) in collaboration with a number of responder agencies officially operationalised Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs) on Praslin and La Digue on December 6 and 7, 2022 respectively.

The setting up of the EOCs on both islands will allow the division to effectively coordinate multi-agency response during major disruptions.

The EOC on Praslin, based at the Seychelles Fire and Rescue Services Agency (SFRSA) Station on Eve island, will also serve as the Regional Emergency Operation Centre (REOC) for both islands. In the event of a serious disruption on either island, the REOC will link with the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), based at the DRMD headquarters at Mont Fleuri.

On La Digue, the EOC is based at the ex-courthouse and will be manned by officers of the Police Force.

On both days of the launch, the director general of DRMD, Robert Ernesta, led the interactions with the various agencies in attendance. He was accompanied by a number of key DRMD staff as they met with stakeholders such as the Police Force, the SFRSA, the Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA), the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA), the Terrestrial Restoration Action Society of Seychelles (TRASS) on Praslin and on La Digue, the Business Association.

During the interactions with the various agencies, way forward in regards to the contingency plans for forest fires and landslides on Praslin and flood on La Digue were discussed.

Training is being planned for officers who will be the dedicated work station attendants in the centres.

The first training they will be provided with will be radio communications.

At the moment persons who will be engaged in the EOCs during emergencies will be doing so on a volunteer basis.

For the meantime, the EOCs will be exclusively accessed by first responder agencies during emergencies and other significant events. The public will have limited access in view that the purpose of the centre will be for coordination of response between responder agencies.

During emergencies, the public will still need to channel their queries, requests and reports to their respective district authorities who will in turn relay information when and as appropriate to the officers in the EOC.

The EOC will organise the release fo the information to the public when this is deemed appropriate and necessary.

In addition to the opening of the centres, the DRMD team and its stakeholders visited the landfills on both islands. Following the visit, it is expected that essential recommendations to government in regards to the proper management of the Landfill will be provided in the very near future.

On La Digue, the Business Association and other stakeholders initiated the creation of a Disaster Risk Management Committee to identify areas of concern and to provide their recommendations to the DRMD and other relevant authorities periodically.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of the December 6-7 ceremonies on Praslin and La Digue.

Text & photos contributed by the DRMD