Cauayan City, Isabela (March 9, 2023) – In line with National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council’s (NDRRMC) initiative on quarterly Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED), SM City Cauayan and other SM malls participated on the said drill today.
About 376 mall employees and mallgoers participated and were familiarized on the mall’s alarm and evacuation procedures. Signages were deployed in the mall area and continues announcement in the mall PA system is played to remind the tenants and shoppers about the drill.
Employees assigned as marshals posted on their area of responsibility to guide the mall-goers on the evacuation routes of the mall. As the rumbling sound alarm starts at 2PM, the Emergency Response Group (ERG) of the mall was activated, malls’ employees and customers performed drop, cover and hold (DCH) position and started evacuating to the safe zones of the mall after the alarm stops from ringing as a signal for evacuation.
Clearing operation was also conducted to ensure that none of the participants is left inside the building, as a showcase of its ability to account the people within the mall premises. The plotted victims were responded by the rescue team and medical team of the mall. The friendly-forces was also called to respond on the incidents, practicing the coordination of the mall’s ERG to the friendly-forces.
Quarterly, SM malls took part on the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) to train and guarantee the readiness and preparedness of its tenants and employees to respond to earthquake incident.
It also seeks to educate the public on disaster preparedness, logistics and capability of the mall in responding to earthquake incident, as well as to showcase the government agencies’ capability on handling disaster situations.
Partner agencies like the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council came to witness the activity.
