OPERATION Floodgate 2013, a simulation exercise geared to test regional and national response systems in the event of floods, is set for October 21 through October 25.

This according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, Thursday,  at a post-Cabinet press conference.
The exercise is the second one scheduled for 2013, the first one having been completed in March.
According to Luncheon, the exercise will be conducted in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/ Mahaica), 5 (Mahaica/ Berbice), 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne) and 9 (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo).
He added that it will be done in three-phases: the activation of response centres; the test of the response system’s functioning, which includes relocation of persons affected and collaboration between stakeholder agencies; and a test of procedures in deactivation of the response centres and management of the aftermath of flooding.
At the end of the exercise a report will be forwarded to the Cabinet and the national coordinator for national disasters for consideration.
Luncheon expressed confidence that regional and national response teams are capable of responding to not only flooding, but other possible disasters.
Civil Defence Commission (CDC) Director General, retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, after the March exercise, had pointed out that an assessment from the Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean (ECLAC) placed economic losses after the 2005 floods at 60 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and development was pushed back at least 10 years.
The exercises have been dubbed quintessential for disaster risk management by a cross-section of stakeholders.