NATO to hold rescue exercises in Georgia September 22-28
From September 22 to 28, 2012 NATO Disaster Assistance Training "Georgia 2012" will be held in Georgia with representatives from 30 countries taking part in the exercise.
The "Georgia-2012" will be held under the auspices of the Euro-Atlantic Coordination Centre for responding to natural disasters and catastrophes, with 11 teams and 30 countries participating.
The scenario of the training includes exercises during earthquake. The first training will start on September 20, 2012 with a scenario as if an earthquake of 6.8 magnitude would have occurred 35 km south of Tbilisi. Operations would take place in the city of Rustavi - closest to the "epicenter", with a population of over 100 thousand people. By the scenario, it represents danger due to the presence in the chemical plant, factories, as well as proximity to pipelines, railways and highways.
After preliminary assessment of damage, decision is made that the forces and rescue services of Georgia are not sufficient to deal with the results of the disaster and it is necessary to seek international assistance through the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre.
After that rescue teams from Alliance member states and partner countries take part in the liquidation of the results of the earthquake; engage in rescuing people, trapped under the ruins of houses and vehicles. In addition, works for decontamination of toxic leakage will be carried out.
This kind of large scale training by NATO is held every year. These trainings allow NATO and partner countries to practice fighting consequences of natural disasters, as well as to expand cooperation in emergency situations.