NEMA‘s Role and Function
The role and functions of the NEMA are enunciated in Cabinet Minute No.1060 dated May 19, 1988 and staff appointed May 1, 1989. The primary functions of the NEMA are planning and coordination. NEMA is not expected to be a line agency rather its role is "to facilitate the preparation of response and recovery plans and hazard mitigation programmes by agencies having principal responsibility in those areas". The primary functions are summarized as follows:
- coordinating all activities related to emergency preparedness, response and recovery;
- monitoring hazard mitigation programmes and evaluating the effectiveness with which hazard mitigation activities are being implemented by the appropriate governmental and non-governmental organizations;
- review internal agency plans for responding to natural and technological hazards;
- prepare inventories of personnel, equipment, and supplies that would be needed in emergencies
;
- undertake training and simulation exercises;
- compiling, reviewing and providing support for the completion and/or updating of the component plans for oil spills, hazardous materials spills, industrial disasters, aircraft disasters, and maritime disasters;
- establishing an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) which would house dedicated telephone lines and equipment to be used in emergency situations;
- developing/conducting public information, education and training programmes for emergency management;
- producing directly through its own staff, or by using the technical expertise of other agencies: data, maps and other technical material that establish the nature of risk and vulnerability, on an area basis.
- Cabinet Permanent Appointed Committee to Plan for Disaster Preparedness at Point Lisas
NEMA has been designated the lead agency on the Cabinet Permanent Appointed Committee to plan for disaster preparedness at Point Lisas. The Committee‘s terms of reference are as follows:
- to evaluate and plan for disaster preparedness at Point Lisas including Community Awareness Programmes;
- to submit proposals for the implementation of the following recommendations of the Advisory Technical Group.
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