Nee Soon South Community Engagement Programme cum Emergency Preparedness Day 2007 serves as the final and anchor activity for the elaborate and comprehensive CEP-driven project that spans across a 5-month period.
Highlights Of The Nee Soon South CEP cum EP Day 2007:
To be held on 21 October 2007 at 4.30pm at Block 838, Yishun Street 81, Nee Soon South Community Engagement Programme (CEP) cum Emergency Preparedness (EP) will be graced by Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health and attended by Engineer Lee Bee Wah, Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC & Advisor to Nee Soon South GROs.
This highlights of this finale activity for the Nee Soon South CEP-driven project includes a video montage showcasing the 5 months of CEP activities as well as the official launch of the Nee Soon South Crisis Contingency Plan and Crisis Alert System.
The plan is the product of the deliberation and discussion by the participants during the CEP Table-top Exercise which includes detailed terrain mapping of each zone in the constituency and contact numbers of all grassroots leaders and key appointment holders in the constituency. The Crisis Alert System, on the other hand is a first of its kind automated sms and e-mail alert system to facilitate swift and mass activation of Nee Soon South grassroots leaders and key appointment holders during a major crisis.
In addition, there will be presentation of certificates of appointment to the members of the newly established Nee Soon South CARE (Caring Action in Response to an Emergency) Team. This is a team of dedicated volunteers who are trained in counseling so as to swiftly render psychological support to those in emotional distressed during a crisis situation. In times of crisis, the fact that both the victims and counselors are from the same constituency and know each other would definitely be an added advantage in the healing process. Certificates of appointment will also be presented to new members of Nee Soon South Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) from different ethnic background.
Finally, true to the spirit of CEP, the scenario drill which is the hallmark of every EP Day will see a totally new concept with elements of multi-racial themes and greater participation from the community leaders and volunteers, including the CERT and CARE teams. Even the scenario is different from the typical EP Day exercise in the sense that there will be multiple explosions rather than a single bomb blast incident.
Channel NewsAsia - Nee Soon South the first to use e-alert system for emergencies
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 October 2007 0001 hrs
SINGAPORE: Residents in Nee Soon South have spent the past five months learning what to do in the event of a major crisis, and on Saturday they got the chance to demonstrate their skills in a simulated bomb attack.
More than 100 youths and adults from different races were involved in the exercise.
They included students, grassroots leaders and members of religious establishments.
The exercise is the result of a community engagement programme that aims to develop social cohesion and prevent conflict when crisis hits.
Nee Soon South is the first to use an automated SMS and email alert system for emergencies. Ms Lee Bee Wah, MP of Ang Mo Kio GRC, said: "We have this e-alert system because during emergency, different people may pass different messages and by the time it goes down to the ground it may be distorted. So with this e-alert, we can send out messages through email and to the mobile phone straight away."
Note : No reproduction or downloading of this article is allowed in any medium. Permission has to be obtained from Channel NewsAsia.
The Straits Times - 'Bombs' go off in Yishun emergency drill
22 October 2007
ORGANISED mayhem ruled in Yishun yesterday when simulated car and parcel bombs went off near each other in the largest emergency exercise organised at the grassroots level.
The exercise was organised by the Nee Soon South constituency and a slew of agencies - the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the police, the People's Association, the Home Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Including schools and religious groups, more than 20 organisations were involved.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Ms Lee Bee Wah, a Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, who were at the event, stressed the importance of individuals taking personal responsibility for their own safety.
TOTAL PREPAREDNESS: Civil defence force workers rescue a man trapped by bomb debris in a simulated exercise in Yishun yesterday. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan says Singaporeans must also take personal responsibility for their own well-being. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA
Mr Khaw said he was struck by how few stallholders in the market fire in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 had fire insurance.
He said that because the police and the civil defence force were efficient, 'people just assume that life will carry on like this, forever they will be safe and nothing can happen. But things do happen...and the best time to prepare for yourself is peace time'.
Ms Lee said: 'When we talk to the market people, they say 'I bought insurance the first year, nothing happened, I bought it the second year, nothing happened'. When it comes to the third year, they ask themselves why they want to spend this $100.
'I think we have to constantly drive the message home to market stallholders and shop keepers that fire is very real. Just like terrorism, it can happen anywhere as well.'
