Website Information

PURPOSE 

The planning and training section is responsible for administering EMO’s Federal grants received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the US Department of Transportation (DOT)-Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ)-Office of Justice Programs.  It conducts planning, training and exercise activities dealing with natural and technological disasters and terrorism to reduce the CNMI’s vulnerability to all hazards and increase emergency response capabilities.

FUNCTIONS

PATS develops and submits annual grant application packages together with Statement of Work (SOW) to FEMA, DOT and DOJ to obtain annual funding for personnel and operational expenses in performing its SOW and objectives each year.  It coordinates with other departments, agencies, volunteer organizations and the private sector in planning, training and exercise activities.

GOALS

The goals are to promote mitigation, preparedness and exercise activities that will reduce the CNMI’s vulnerability to all hazards (natural and man-made) and continue to develop and increase emergency response capabilities of all personnel from both the public and private sectors in the CNMI.

OBJECTIVES

To achieve its goals, PATS is required to develop and update the CNMI’s emergency response plans, conduct training and exercise activities in emergency management, hazardous materials emergency response and terrorism consequence management, promote public education and outreach on disaster mitigation and preparedness, and coordinate with all emergency response agencies and organizations at the Local, State and Federal level.

The CNMI has various emergency response plans for responding to different types of emergencies but the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is the primary plan for all response agencies.  Other response plans include the CNMI Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan, Search and Rescue Plan, OPA 90 Area Contingency Plan, Off-Airport Aircraft Accident Response Plan, etc. and disaster recovery plans like the Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Administrative Plans for the Hazard Mitigation, Individual Assistance and Public Assistance Programs.

PATS provides public education and outreach on disaster mitigation and preparedness by developing disaster preparedness brochures, newspaper publications on disaster preparedness tips and by conducting Disaster Preparedness Week every year.  During Disaster Preparedness Week, all schools in the CNMI are encouraged to infuse disaster awareness and preparedness information into their lesson plans in science classes (grades 3-12) as part of earth science.

PATS conducts training on emergency management and hazardous materials emergency response to continue to increase and improve the knowledge, skills and capabilities of all personnel from emergency response departments and agencies within the CNMI.  EMO also contracts with private consultants to deliver various emergency management training courses.

The CNMI has a local cadre of certified hazardous materials instructors certified by the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI).  EMO coordinates with this local cadre from various agencies to deliver training in hazardous materials emergency response.  Additional training is provided through the US Coast Guard and the University of California, Davis.

PATS conducts various exercises in emergency management and hazardous materials to exercise and test response plans and personnel from the various emergency response departments and agencies in Saipan, Tinian and Rota.  The types of exercises include Incident Command System (ICS)/Unified Command System (UCS) response organizations, oil spill and hazardous materials incidents, aviation disasters and terrorist events.

Through mitigation, preparedness and exercise activities, the Planning and Training Section of EMO continues to reduce the CNMI’s vulnerability to natural and technological hazards, and improve the knowledge, skills and capabilities of emergency response personnel from both the public and private sectors.  EMO strives to continue to protect the people and environment of our beautiful islands of the Commonwealth.