The President of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service (SRPCBA) stated today that the Bull18 Drill, to be held between September 20 and 24, will test the effectiveness of various Civil Protection agents in situations of major accident or catastrophe.
 
Carlos Neves spoke at a press conference for the presentation of the drill, which is the largest organised by the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service on an annual basis. This year, it will take place on the island of São Miguel.
 
The President of the SRPCBA stressed that Bull18 "is mainly designed to help Civil Protection agents achieving a higher degree of efficiency in the relief to the population in a seismic crisis scenario."
 
In this context, he added that "all occurrences will be conducted as if they were actual situations taking place in different municipalities of São Miguel Island."
 
In addition to training the coordination of all Civil Protection agents, this drill also aims to "train the members of fire brigades, test the level and speed of the response provided by different Civil Protection agents in this type of actions and continue to test the integrated emergency telecommunications network."
 
"The most dynamic and intense part of the drill will be carried out on September 22 and 23 in a 48-hour time frame, including several scenarios such as destroyed homes, isolated populations and other situations that may occur during an earthquake," stated Carlos Neves.
 
In addition to the five fire brigades from São Miguel, the Regional Directorates for Health, Tourism, Public Works and Communications, Housing, Environment, Forest Resources and Sea Affairs will be involved in this exercise, as well as the Regional Civil Engineering Laboratory, the Azores Social Security Institute, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and the Centre for Information and Seismovolcanic Surveillance of the Azores.
 
Furthermore, the drill will also involve the municipal councils of Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Lagoa, Vila Franca do Campo, Nordeste and Povoação, through their municipal Civil Protection services, PSP (Public Security Police), GNR (National Republican Guard), the Foreigners and Borders Services, the Regional Authority of the National Scouts Corps, the Portuguese Scouts Association, radio amateur associations from São Miguel and the Azores Operational Command, through its different services.