The weekend meeting saw more than 100 people from government, emergency, law and military services taking part. (0680088)
GUERNSEY’S government is preparing for a worst-case scenario.
An emergency-planning exercise was held at the Peninsula Hotel at the weekend in order to develop and build existing emergency-response plans if there were a major incident in Guernsey.
Exercise Flying Kestrel involved more than 100 people, including Chief Minister Lyndon Trott and the Policy Council, the UK’s Cabinet Office and military, emergency services, the armed forces, utilities, voluntary groups and other key agencies.
Paul Whitfield, Home chief officer, said that while Guernsey was not high risk, it was important that individuals and organisations developed a wider understanding of the roles, responsibilities, procedures and decision-making processes involved in a major incident.
The desktop planning exercise was centred on an unravelling scenario that was portrayed to the audience via a series of news bulletins made specifically for the event.
In the mock scenario, both the harbour and the airport were closed.
‘It was an unusual and unlikely event but not implausible and, as part of a responsible government, the public would expect us to have some capability to handle such an incident,’ said Mr Whitfield.
Representatives were also present from Alderney and Sark.
‘It was important to involve major charities such as the Salvation Army and the WRVS as they are vital in terms of community support,’ said Mr Whitfield.
He said this was the most severe end of emergency planning which included both natural disasters as well as man-made events.
‘Terrorism is a global problem and it is essential the government knows how to respond.’
Emergency planning officerCatherine Kinnersly said it was purposely over-the-top to test the procedures in place.
‘Emergency planning is very much about preparing for the unexpected but it is better we are ready for something extraordinary,’ she said.
Guest speakers included the Cabinet Office’s civil contingencies secretariat Bruce Mann and Kathy Settle, Allan Watts from Channel TV and Marc Finch from the military.
Mr Whitfield said feedback had been good.
‘No one serious incident is the same, but there was an exceptional amount of good practice coming from it as well as some excellent learning points to take away,’ he said.zash@guernsey-press.com‘Emergency planning is very much about preparing for the unexpected, but it is better we are ready for something extraordinary’
Catherine Kinnersly
Article posted on 2nd December, 2008 - 11.30am
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