Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Homeland Security meeting for Guam mayors

Posted at 03:43 on 09 October, 2007 UTC

Guam’s Homeland Security advisor, Colonel Dennis Santo Tomas, has met with village mayors to discuss next week’s counter terrorism exercise in the territory.

The Pacific News Center reports that months of planning has gone into hosting the TOPOFF 4 exercise, the largest and most comprehensive counter terrorism exercise which will run from the 15th to the 19th of October.

Col. Tomas said the purpose of the training is to test the response capabilities of the federal and local officials in the event of a terrorist attack.

He says the exercise will simulate a real life attack, staged around Ypao Point.

Meanwhile, mayors were able to bring up some other concerns with the Homeland Security advisor, including notification and coordination in the event of a typhoon and tsunami warnings.

Mayors also brought up concerns about confusion over the storm shelters and the last minute changes, which are made just prior to a storm.