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The U.S. Embassy, The Federal Police and Civil Defense Conducted an Emergency Response Joint Training Exercise
Embassy Event
THE U.S. EMBASSY, THE FEDERAL POLICE AND CIVIL DEFENSE CONDUCTED AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE JOINT TRAINING EXERCISE
November 18, 2008
On November 18, Embassy staff participated in a quick response training exercise together with the Argentine Federal Police and Buenos Aires City Government Civil Defense personnel.
“I thank the Argentine authorities for their support to make this drill a success. This is one more step in the close and long-term cooperation between the Embassy and Argentine security forces and we are committed to enhance and strengthen this joint work,” said Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne.
These exercises are part of a drill program conducted by Embassies every 6 to 8 months to respond to all kinds of critical incidents and engage in joint practice drills with the Federal Police and civil action forces of the City of Buenos Aires to improve response capacity of the forces and the general population in the event of an emergency.
The equipment used in the drill included hi-tech materials presented by Ambassador Wayne to the Federal Police last August. This hi-tech equipment donated at a cost of 100,000 dollars is used for fast emergency response. U.S. security experts also trained their Argentine counterparts for three weeks at FP facilities in April.
Some of the key elements used in the drill included a mobile clinic and a decon tent, both manufactured in Argentina, as FP Deputy Commissioner Gustavo Guglielmone who was in charge of the operation noted, the tent had been fully designed in Argentina.
Ambassador Wayne highlighted that there was no specific threat motivating the exercise and that the drill had been scheduled well in advance. Furthermore, these exercises are conducted regularly by the Embassy due to staff rotation.
All Embassy employees participated in the exercise which consisted in an evacuation drill and the set up of assistance and response units nearby.
The exercise, which ran smoothly, helped all the participants to test the compatibility of donated equipment and synchronize first response action in a simulated emergency environment.
The Ambassador thanked the Federal Police and the Buenos Aires City Government for their cooperation in making this exercise a success.
