Dr Hooker: "These exercises prepare us all to be prepared for any emergency."

URACCAN, from its Liaison Office and its four compounds, participated this morning in the III National Multi-Threat Simulation, as part of a coordinated effort by the State of Nicaragua to prepare the population for possible natural disasters or life-threatening situations. This activity was directed from Human Resources, the Risk Management Committees and the Hygiene and Occupational Safety area of this educational institution.

The drill was performed simultaneously at 10 a.m. under different life-threatening scenarios. In the Liaison Office, for example, a flood was raised due to a tropical wave, so staff had to evacuate the facilities and seek refuge. In this sense, the orientations and signs allowed the process to be ordered and safe.

Dr. Alta Hooker, rector of URACCAN, said these exercises allow "everyone to be prepared for any emergency." URACCAN has always participated in these activities, showing its will and commitment to its community.

For her part, the External Cooperation Officer, MSc. Tania Rossman said that "it is necessary to organize for such situations. It is also necessary to ensure that everyone is aware of what is going to happen, what we are doing," that is, that information flows effectively at all levels of the institution, so that, in the face of a real threat, the response is immediate and coordinated.

Participation of the Las Minas venue

The vice-chancellor of the Las Minas campus and coordinator of the Risk Management Commission, PhD. Leonor Ruiz Calderón, valued this exercise as successful, where teachers and students went out to the safety zones after a strong tornado left multiple damage and some injured.

Participation in the Las Minas campus was numerous. "Only 98 of them were staff, of which 54 are women and 44 males; and only 77 students, including those in the process of preparing for the 2020 Latin American Innovation Rally," the vice-chancellor detailed.

New Guinea campus scenario

Also, in URACCAN New Guinea, there was a large organization. According to the PhD. Eugenio López, deputy vice-chancellor of the campus, "is notorious the commitment of the entire university community to join this exercise that preserves life, that is why teachers, students and all the staff has participated in anuently".

Teacher Karla Castro, head of Occupational Hygiene and Safety at the headquarters, said that "154 people, of whom 74 were women, were in attendance." The exercise, which was accompanied by Army and Police officers, was conducted under the assumption of landslide in a classroom module, leaving a student trapped.

The Bluefields Venue Experience

Under a hurricane category, the Bluefields enclosure conducted the mock "Practices for Life," where there were people affected and some injuries from landslides. To address this emergency, members of the Risk Management Commission organized dormitories and health areas to care for those affected.

It should be noted that in the Bluefields compound this practice responds to the commitment to the population of the city, as these facilities of URACCAN were designated by COMUPRED as refuge in case of emergency.

According to teacher Luvy Hernandez, "we are doing this practice to identify that we have all the requirements to serve the population if the need arises. At previous natural disaster events we have already worked to care for the community; with Hurricane Otto used as a community shelter in Rama Cay, from that time until today we have developed a number of improvements to ensure the care of those affected."

The safety exercise from the Bilwi compound

Teacher Ivania Padilla, responsible for the Hygiene and Safety area of the Bilwi compound, said that it is important for URACCAN to safeguard the lives of staff and students, so this institution is committed to these activities that strengthen the ability to respond to risky situations.   

The exercise consisted of the evacuation and shelter of people (teachers and students of Intercultural Medicine) resulting from a flood in the urban area of the municipality of Puerto Cabezas, the result of tropical wave No. 25, which put the lives of the entire community at risk.