INFORMATION

                                                                                                                    4 February 2004

GROUNDBREAKING DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEBRIEF TO TAKE PLACE AT THE RIVER CLUB

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The Cape Disaster Debrief 2004, an important learning opportunity in disaster and incident management which takes place from Wednesday to Friday addresses public disasters, such as earthquakes, rail incidents and other major incidents that have occurred and may occur in the future.

Says Councillor David Erleigh, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security, “We know that many of these disasters can be prevented if there is enough co-operation among governmental departments and enough focus on preventive strategies. It is for this very reason that the Provincial Department of Local Government and the City of Cape Town have contributed substantially to this event.  We need to dedicate ourselves to prevention, but can never neglect our ability to respond rapidly and efficiently to disasters and emergencies.

“Conferences and seminars are always at risk of becoming talk shops where a lot is said but very little is heard. People often return from conferences with no tangible improvement in their ability to do their work. I am very glad to see that the format of this conference attempts to address this risk. I have been informed of some of the elements you will be facing during the exercise this afternoon and I am convinced that you will walk away from it with ample food for thought. I am also pleased to see the focus on learning from past incidents, and the initiative by the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa to start a process of national standardisation in terms of public safety planning for mass events.”

The Cape Disaster Debrief 2004 which will be held at The River Club in Observatory from 4 to 6 February is hosted by the Western Cape branch of the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa and will be presented in an exciting new format which includes practical discussions of real-life incidents and a practical training exercise.

Other items on the programme include a technology and equipment update, a debrief on major mass events, such as the Cape Argus Cycle Tour and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, and a debrief on the Montagu Floods.

Councillor Erleigh added, "The Cape Disaster Debrief 2004 provides a unique opportunity for role-players within the city working in the area of disaster management to learn from each other and to improve the way we look after the safety of the citizens of this city and the rest of South Africa."

  ENDS.

GROUNDBREAKING DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEBRIEF TO TAKE PLACE AT THE RIVER CLUB

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