The Emergency Services at the Command Post (C.O.P.I.)

KPSM

Philipsburg, August 26th, 2019

From: Chief Inspector R.V. HENSON and SXM Airport Corporate Communication Department

                        

                 POLICE PRESS RELEASE

Joint Emergency Evacuation Training

 

SIMPSON BAY, St. Maarten (Monday August 26, 2019) –– Following the collaborative efforts of several local emergency services, a cooperative emergency evacuation training was demonstrated at the Cargo Building of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on Monday August 26th, 2019. The training was executed between the hours of 08:50 a.m. through 10.05 a.m. without any road closures. 

The emergency services represented during this training were the SXM Airport’s Rescue and Firefighting (R&FF), the SXM Airport’s Security, SXM Airport’s Operations, SXM Airport’s Quality Assurance and Safety, the Island Fire department, the Ambulance department and Police Force of Sint Maarten. 

The teams engaged in dual scenarios during the training, whereby a bomb threat was planted at the Cargo Building and the leakage of deadly gas also posed a threat, resulting in several casualties.

The staged disaster was managed from the ground by the Command Post (C.O.P. I). The collective findings which were forwarded to the C.O.P.I. from the emergency services was then forwarded to the Police Force of Sint Maarten. During an actual emergency the information will be sent to the Emergency Operations Center of the Government of St. Maarten (E.O.C.).

“The main objective of this training was to create a real-life situation which brings all emergency services together, to put their training into practice in the event of a large-scale emergency or difficult situation. The emergency evacuation training also elevates the communication and working collaboration between all entities to a much higher level. It is necessary to work on those areas where improvement is critical,” declared Police Spokesman, Ricardo Henson.

The training was deemed a success and all emergency service representatives were pleased to partake in the joint exercise. 

Photo Caption 1: The Emergency Services gathers at the Command Post (C.O.P.I.)