Today, in the Jane Sandanski barracks in garrison Shtip, the final activities and the Distinguished Visitors’ Day were realized at the disaster response exercise “National Response 2019”, which took place in the period from 16.09. to 19.09.2019.
The Distinguished Visitors’ Day was filled with numerous activities which began with an introductory address of the commander of the Joint Operations Command, Major General Pavle Arsoski, followed by a briefing of the exercise director, Colonel Zhikica Jovanovski.
After the presentation of the Next-Generation Incident Command System – NICS by an expert from the Crisis Management Center (CMC), the regional headquarters for Crisis Management, the headquarters of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue (DPR) and the Situation Center were visited. At the training grounds in the barracks, some of the activities performed during the exercise were demonstrated, with a final address by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Azim Nuredin and the Mayor of Shtip, Mr. Blagoj Bochvarski.
The exercise “National Response 2019” is based on a complex natural disaster scenario. Namely, the scenario is based on heavy rains in the wider region of the Municipality of Shtip, which causes overflow of the dam “Kalimanci”, of the river Bregalnica and its tributaries that flood the wider region of Shtip. After the proclamation of a crisis situation in the municipality of Shtip and the municipality of Karbinci for 15 days the capacities and resources are deployed on national level. All institutions for dealing with natural disasters acted together: the Army, the Ministries of Defence, Interior, Health, Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, CMC, PRD, EVN, Red Cross, Public Companies “Isar” and “Stipion from Shtip, as well as the crisis management forces of the city of Shtip, Vinica, Kocani, Cheshinovo-Obleshevo, Karbinci and Zrnovci. They successfully managed the natural disaster in the most affected area of the storm and within the foreseen deadline.
The exercise “National Response 2019” is the first such exercise in our country. All the participants gave their maximum contribution to it and for a better understanding of the forces and resources available. Thus, the main objective of the exercise for efficient and effective implementation of the crisis management system in a coordinated and joint operation of all its entities was achieved.
