Hawai, Apr 23: With the South West Monsoon and potential heatwave conditions on the horizon, a high-level preparedness meeting was held on Wednesday, chaired by Anjaw deputy commissioner Millo Kojin.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including superintendent of police Rike Kamsi, Hayuliang ADC Julity Mihu, administrative officers, department heads, disaster management officials, and representatives from the health, police, and civil society sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Kojin emphasised the urgency of proactive planning and seamless coordination among departments to effectively tackle challenges such as landslides, floods, road blockages, and heat-related health risks that often accompany the monsoon season.
He highlighted the need for a comprehensive action plan and readiness of all resources to ensure timely and efficient emergency response.
All departments were instructed to submit updated inventories of equipment, vehicles, manpower, and emergency supplies to the district disaster management officer (DDMO). This data, he stated, would form the backbone of rapid response efforts during any crisis.
The meeting focused on defining clear roles and responsibilities for each department, with discussions covering early warning systems, community awareness initiatives, evacuation procedures, and the formation of dedicated rapid response teams.
The health department was tasked with ensuring the availability of essential medicines and medical personnel in vulnerable areas, while the PWD and BRO were directed to station earth-moving equipment in landslide-prone zones.
The food & civil supplies department was also asked to maintain sufficient buffer stocks in remote areas that may become inaccessible during extreme weather events.
The DC stressed the importance of public awareness and community involvement, urging for training and sensitisation drives at the village level, especially in high-risk and remote regions.
He reiterated that disaster preparedness is a collective responsibility and that community engagement is vital to reducing risks and damages.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of commitment from all departments to uphold coordination, ensure regular monitoring, and implement swift response strategies to safeguard lives and property during the upcoming monsoon and summer months.
