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Disaster Preparedness Workshop Held on Guam

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): November 7, 1997 - A Disaster Preparedness Workshop was held on Guam from October 7 to 10, 1997, under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its field office in Guam and representatives from Disaster Offices in the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands, according to Josaiah Waguk, Special Assistant to the President.

Over 30 participants attended the workshop which included three each from the FSM and Palau Disaster Offices and 18 to 20 from Guam's Health Services, Public Safety, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Police and Fire Department.

The workshop's instructors included Keith Harrison from office of the Governor of the State of California and Jim Doman from Los Angeles county.

The courses offered included an introduction to Standardized Emergency Management Services (SEMS) which gives students an overview of SEMS, including reference to the law and regulations, standard terms and definitions, and training needs.

The basic framework of SEMS incorporates the use of Incident Command System (ICS), multi-agency coordination during disasters. It provides five level emergency response organization, namely Field, Local Government, Operation Area, Region and State. SEMS facilities enhances the flow of emergency information and response within and between involved agencies at all SEMS organizational levels; the process of coordination between responding agencies; and the rapid mobilization, deployment, use, and tracking of resources, according to workshop documents.

Special Assistant Waguk, John Mangefel and secretary Oleen Poll all from the FSM Disaster and Coordination Office attended the workshop on behalf of the FSM Government.