Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KARACHI110
2009-04-01 10:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Karachi
Cable title:
CONSULATE KARACHI - LESSONS LEARNED - CRISIS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0014 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHKP #0110 0911003 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011003Z APR 09 FM AMCONSUL KARACHI TO RUEHFSI/DIR FSINFATC PRIORITY INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0449 RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0991
UNCLAS KARACHI 000110
SIPDIS
DIR FSINFATC FOR FSI/LMS/CMT, SECSTATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS,
DS/DSS/OP, CA/OCS/ACS, SCA/EX
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC PK
SUBJECT: CONSULATE KARACHI - LESSONS LEARNED - CRISIS
MANAGEMENT EXERCISE
REF: FSINFATC 679
Consulate General Karachi's responses are keyed to reftel:
A. Format of the CME: Consulate Karachi used a table-top
format for the training which was held on March 13, 2009.
Post was allocated four hours for the exercise which was
sufficient to meet our objectives.
B. Selection of scenarios: The scenarios presented were
appropriate and realistic to our geographic location.
C. How appropriate was the kind and amount of intervention
by the controller exercised: The CME trainer, Brenda
Pennington, exerted an appropriate amount of intervention,
making suggestions or comments when needed.
D. Lessons learned from the CME: There were many lessons
and best practices that emerged from the CME. One lesson was
the realization that not every incident commander needs to be
an American.
E. Changes to be made to the EAP as a result of the CME
exercise: Post learned, after an involved discussion with
the LES staff, that in an emergency, such as a plane crash,
emergency personnel will automatically take victims to the
government hospitals (Jinnah Post Medical Center and Civil
Government Hospital) - they will NOT take them to Aga Khan
University Hospital which is our preference because of the
higher standard of medical care there. Therefore, Post needs
to have the contact names and numbers for these hospitals
available in our EAP in order to find AmCits and get them
transferred to Aga Khan. Additionally, Post learned was that
there are no bathroom facilities in our consular safe haven
and that the safe haven needs shock blankets and a
defibrillation kit.
F. Usefulness of CME exercise: Due to the volatile security
situation in Pakistan, CME training is frequently advised.
The exercise served as a refresher for our LES staff and was
extremely helpful to our newly arrived American staff.
G. Any other comments: One issue which Post addressed with
the CME trainers was the lack of classified processing at our
alternative command center. One of the trainers (Shawn
Baxter) currently works at the Operations Center and found
this information quite, useful since some of the portals that
should be accessed during an emergency are on the classified
network. Both trainers were very helpful and prepared to
assist post. They provided us with valuable insight on how
an emergency situation would be handled by the Department.
RODRIGUEZ
SIPDIS
DIR FSINFATC FOR FSI/LMS/CMT, SECSTATE FOR S/ES-O/CMS,
DS/DSS/OP, CA/OCS/ACS, SCA/EX
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC PK
SUBJECT: CONSULATE KARACHI - LESSONS LEARNED - CRISIS
MANAGEMENT EXERCISE
REF: FSINFATC 679
Consulate General Karachi's responses are keyed to reftel:
A. Format of the CME: Consulate Karachi used a table-top
format for the training which was held on March 13, 2009.
Post was allocated four hours for the exercise which was
sufficient to meet our objectives.
B. Selection of scenarios: The scenarios presented were
appropriate and realistic to our geographic location.
C. How appropriate was the kind and amount of intervention
by the controller exercised: The CME trainer, Brenda
Pennington, exerted an appropriate amount of intervention,
making suggestions or comments when needed.
D. Lessons learned from the CME: There were many lessons
and best practices that emerged from the CME. One lesson was
the realization that not every incident commander needs to be
an American.
E. Changes to be made to the EAP as a result of the CME
exercise: Post learned, after an involved discussion with
the LES staff, that in an emergency, such as a plane crash,
emergency personnel will automatically take victims to the
government hospitals (Jinnah Post Medical Center and Civil
Government Hospital) - they will NOT take them to Aga Khan
University Hospital which is our preference because of the
higher standard of medical care there. Therefore, Post needs
to have the contact names and numbers for these hospitals
available in our EAP in order to find AmCits and get them
transferred to Aga Khan. Additionally, Post learned was that
there are no bathroom facilities in our consular safe haven
and that the safe haven needs shock blankets and a
defibrillation kit.
F. Usefulness of CME exercise: Due to the volatile security
situation in Pakistan, CME training is frequently advised.
The exercise served as a refresher for our LES staff and was
extremely helpful to our newly arrived American staff.
G. Any other comments: One issue which Post addressed with
the CME trainers was the lack of classified processing at our
alternative command center. One of the trainers (Shawn
Baxter) currently works at the Operations Center and found
this information quite, useful since some of the portals that
should be accessed during an emergency are on the classified
network. Both trainers were very helpful and prepared to
assist post. They provided us with valuable insight on how
an emergency situation would be handled by the Department.
RODRIGUEZ