Beit Shemesh City Hall on Wednesday held an emergency preparedness exercise on Wednesday that involved all emergency agencies in the city.

The municipality of Beit Shemesh on Wednesday held an integrated exercise including the establishment of a temporary morgue and a center for families to gather.

In the framework of the training exercise, an earthquake scenario with a high number of fatalities was simulated, testing the abilities and performance of all of the area’s emergency personnel along with their abilities to cooperate on an inter-agency level in time of crisis.

Part of the exercise, which simulated many fatalities, included bringing the victims to kvura in the shortest and most respectful manner. In addition, the municipality, led by the welfare department, is for a first time, preparing a family center, the first of its kind, to treat relatives and families of missing and dead victims of such a catastrophe, and to collect testimonies towards assisting in victim identification.

The exercise was conducted in the presence of Beit Shemesh Mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch, as well as senior Interior Ministry Jerusalem District officials, IDF Homefront commanders, neighboring mayors and council heads, area social and welfare officials and others.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem/Photo Credit: קבוצת רוטרניק)