Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

Interoperable Communications and No-Notice Mass Casualty Workshop Held in Pohnpei, FSM

Palikir, POHPEI (FSM Information Service): October 29, 2008 - A combined interoperable communications and No-Notice Mass Casualty Subject Expert Exchange (SMEE) Program workshop was conducted at the Cliff Rainbow Hotel by the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Task Force - Homeland Defense and the Office of Environment and Emergency Management Pohnpei, FSM from October 20 to 23, 2008.

The workshop was geared to enhance the participants' understanding of current multi-agency and jurisdictional response/operations/recovery plans and capabilities for communications and No-Notice Mass Casualty's in all forms.

Participating stakeholders for this Workshop are; AFP Micronesia TCU, Bioterrorism Office, Department of Public Safety, FSM Department of H.S.A.

Emergency Preparedness Program, FSM Department of Transportation, Communication and Infrastructure, FSM National Police, FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management, FSM Information Office, FSM Telecommunication Corporation, Governor's Office, Micronesian Transnational Crime Unit, Pohnpei Port Authority, Pohnpei Utilities Corporation, Red Cross and U.S. Embassy, Kolonia.

The JFT-HD Support Team that conducted the workshop includes; SPC Greg Alik, USARPAC 5th GPC, Stephanie Boyer, Administrative Support, Cpl. Evan Brasseur, USARPAC 5th GPC, SFC Edward Buchanan, USARPAC G6 Representative, Col Michael Korman, JTF-HD Team Chief, John Livengood, Pacific Disaster Center, Michael Machado, JTF-HD Logistics, SFC Showanda Mosley, Christopher Nutter, SME/Facilitator, Richard Penman, Task Force - Guam, MAJ Kenneth Weiland, PACOM J6 Representative and Kevin Youngberg SME/Facilitator.

All the participants of the Workshop received certificates at a short closing ceremony on the 23rd. Pohnpei State Lt. Governor Churchill Edward was at the award ceremony and there he gave a short speech commanding both the participants and workshop facilitators and thanked all that helped made the workshop a reality.

A dinner reception hosted by the FSM President Office in the evening acknowledging the JFT-HD Support Teams hard work in bringing the workshop to FSM. Vice President Alik L. Alik was there where he also presented his thanks and appreciation for the Teams hard work.