Home Front Command Ministry will practice an earthquake drill

Ministry of Home Front and the Home Front Command completes its final preparations for the national home front exercise, "Turning Point 6", which will begin in about 11 days. The exercise will simulate the first scenario of a strong earthquake hitting Israel. Major exercises were presented today at a briefing held by Front Protection Minister Avi Dichter, the commander of the Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Eyal Eisenberg.

Major General Eisenberg said at the briefing that the planned Home Front Command exercise "will be a powerful way we have not experienced for many years. We want to achieve a better sense of emergency among citizens, various organizations and ministries. The more citizens whom will be prepared the more we can minimize losses."

The exercise scenario: a strong earthquake strikes Israel in the Arava region and the Upper Galilee and causes destruction of Gush Dan too. As a result high tsunami waves inhibit of up to six meters on the beaches of Tel Aviv. Home Front Command forces during the exercise will be required to deal with about 7,000 "dead" scenario, 70 thousand casualties and 170 thousand people who will be forced to evacuate.

Dichter concluded that "If I could choose between an earthquake scenario and rocket attacks on Israel, I would choose the second option, both in terms of damage and our deterrence capabilities."

2012 - Defined as the year of HFC population preparations earthquake scenario. Command key exercises during this year will focus on preparations for this - and of course exercise primarily for the National Front. September is also scheduled as month of Home Front Command readiness during which will take place different advocacy activities throughout the country. Unique booklets will be distributed to every household in the country.

One may recall that last July's annual media campaign launched on the Home Front Command preparedness for emergencies, particularly earthquakes and marked "Home Front takes over." This is the fourth year in which HFC comes out with a campaign aimed at the population in order to raise awareness and mobilize public action in preparing the home, family and environment for emergencies.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!