The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, led a delegation to the Rhode Island National Guard, Civil Support Team and Federal Emergency Management Agency Region One Hazardous Material Response Exercise.

The workshop was held in Warwick, Rhode Island, United States from May 4-7, 2015.

Representing NEMA was Operations and Training Officer Luke Bethel. Other members of the team were Sgt. Quincy McGregor, Fire Services, Royal Bahamas Police Force and Lt .Nevado Bain, Communications, Royal Bahamas Defence Force.

The purpose of the exercise was knowledge exchange between the Bahamian team and the Rhode Island National Guard. The objectives were to test, evaluate and enhance protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) during simulated hazardous materials incidents.

The participants were instructed in Hazmat Team response, discovery, sampling and reporting of “Dirty Bomb” construction in a temporary lab at the seaport.

NEMA and other government agencies may benefit from the exercise in the following areas:

• Effective Planning
• Command and Control
• Execution
• Evaluation
• Reimplementation if Necessary