Oudtshoorn, 22 October 2019 – On 14 October 2019 the Oudtshoorn Fire, Rescue and Disaster Management Services conducted a desktop exercise in collaboration with the Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management Services.
All relevant role-players such as Metro Police, South African Police Service (SAPS), Pathology Services, Municipal Traffic, Provincial Traffic, Municipal Communications Department and Garden Route Disaster Management Services were invited to attend this important exercise as to test the town’s Disaster Management Plan. This scenario was not a live exercise.
The scenario was a Hazardous Materials incident at the corner of Voortrekker Road and Langenhoven Street.
“This specific incident was picked as we have a large number of Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) vehicles that travel through our towns each day and we need to ensure that all role players are ready when such an incident occurs,” said Adél Supra-Vertue, manager for fire, rescue and disaster management services at Oudtshoorn Municipality.
“It tested all our capabilities as Emergency Services to ensure that this incident would be handled efficiently and safely. The exercise kicked off with a call received at the control centre at 09:15 and the closure of the call was at 12:00,” she added.
“We would like to thank each and every one for their valued inputs during this exercise and the Provincial Government Disaster Management Services for supporting us in such an exercise. I cannot stress enough how important such exercises is, through this type of exercises we sort out all problems and implement back up plans to ensure the public and community are safe at all times,” Supra-Vertue concluded.