Police Commissioner convening a debrief session early next week

In the wake of the public outcry at the failure to respond to the tsunami warning issued from Hawaii by the Emergency Management Cook Islands to handle the potential national disaster, the Police Commissioner will be convening a debrief session early next week to which the media will be invited.
Disaster response is governed by the Disaster Risk Management Act 2007 and there are standard operating procedures as provided by the Act in the 3 tier structure: Emergency Management Cook Islands (risk); Police Commissioner (response) and Met Office (monitoring and notification).
Commissioner Maara Tetava said that Tuesday’s events have focused attention on the deficiencies in the system and at the debrief, theagencies will be asked about their performance and o see how to improve the lack of coordination between the agencies.
The Met Office has a link with Hawaii and receives constant updates on earthquakes, tsunami and cyclones in the Pacific area. If the event of an tsunami or cyclone alert, the warning is to be faxed to the Police Commissioner or his senior Commanders on duty and they decide their response in conjunction with EMCI team who are to assess the risk.
CI Times commented that the chain of command under the Act seems muddled and perhaps the Police Commissioner ought to be the lead agency as he has the services of his officers at his disposal at all times. Immediate action is needed in the event of a tsunami which can occur within minutes or few hours of an alert.
CI Times asked the Police Commissioner whether he ought not have his own direct link with Hawaii in addition to that of the Met Office links in case communication lines are knocked out between the Met Office and Police HQ.
The Commissioner said that Tuesday had focused his mind on the shortcomings such as if Police HQ became ‘swamped’ and if communication lines are knocked out. He is putting together a proposal for a purpose built vehicle with satellite dishes to be used as a supplement to the Emergency Management office on the third floor of Police HQ. If the Police HQ became ‘swamped’, the vehicle would have been moved to higher ground and used as the substitute Emergency Response centre.