Emergency planning exercise successful

A major emergency planning exercise, named Exercise Triton, in Greater Manchester, UK, that started on 11 July, has ended. The scenario, which took place over five days, was used to test how local authorities, emergency services and other partners would work together in a major emergency situation.

The exercise saw 36 organisations taking part in proceedings. Dozens of vehicles were involved, including Chinook helicopters, according to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS). Participants were asked to respond to a scenario where severe weather warnings had been issued and areas were at risk from flooding; during the first three days, services put procedures in place to ensure that properties and critical infrastructure would be protected from potential flooding.

On the fourth day, the emergency services were given a more dramatic situation. The new scenario had the teams respond to a river bank breach in Oldham, with water now heading towards a number of boroughs in Greater Manchester. On top of this, a coach was plunged into the River Tame in a mock crash, and a full SAR operation had to be co-ordinated. The services also successfully put evacuation procedures into place and set up rest centres.

Paul Argyle,GMFRS fire officer and chair of Greater Manchester Resilience forum, thanked those who took part, including the local residents. “We have to do this to ensure we are well prepared to deal with any future real-life event or disaster that might occur,” he said, “and it is also invaluable that those taking part got the chance to practise essential response skills that would be used during a major incident like this.”