2024 Konfitma Training underway

To better prepare CNMI frontliners to defend, protect, and rescue community members should situations like active shootings, mass care, and biochemical cleanups occur, an estimated 100 uniformed personnel yesterday took part in the kickoff of the 2024 Konfitma Training.

Day 1 in the two-day training shot off with sirens and a blur of vehicles as frontliners raced to Kagman High School during an active school shooting and hostage simulation.

Participating in the training were the CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, CNMI Public School System, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, Department of Public Safety, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Customs and Biosecurity, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., and Bureau of Environmental Coastal Quality along with with Guam National Guard 94th WMD-CST and Wisconsin National Guard 54TH WMD-CST.

CNMI HSEM spokesperson Bernard Villagomez said the drills for Day 1 of the 2024 Konfitma Training were successful.

“The scenarios went well. The active shooter scenario at Kagman High School was a success. The objectives for the drill were good. We were testing the readiness and response of the school staff and the students during an active shooter scenario and that went well. PSS was also testing the Emergency Operations Plan, their EOP, to test the effectiveness of the plan, and also the coordination and communication between all the multi-jurisdiction and partnering agencies that were to respond to an active shooter scenario at Kagman High School and PSS as a whole.” he said

Villagomez said KHS students were also a part of the lockdown situation.

“We had a standard operating procedure for the school. We also had a designated hostage, which was a part of the plan, and the active shooter, which was also part of the scenario. The second objective for the exercise was the hostage situation and active shooter situation at the juvenile detention center in Kagman. So, the active shooter from the school fled to the former Kagman Juvenile Detention Center and that’s where DPS and SWAT team responded to the incident. And then, we transported some of the patients from the juvenile detention center over to CHC, where they conducted mass care and decontamination. “

Villagomez went on to emphasize the significance of these kinds of training.

“We don’t want a real-world situation like this to happen, but it’s best that we practice and we exercise these drills so we’re prepared if it does happen,” he shared. “If it does happen in the future, we’re more prepared to handle the situation and save lives and protect the CNMI community as a whole.”

Department of Public Safety assistant chief of police Simon T. Manacop told Saipan Tribune that 40 of their personnel participated in the drill. He also echoed the importance of preparedness, especially among frontliners.

“The importance of the drill is that we’re able to test and evaluate our response. It allows us to identify gaps and deficiencies and the areas that need improvement.”

Villagomez shared that today’s drill on Day 2 of the 2024 Konfitma Training will involve biochemical cleanups at the CUC storage site.

“The CNMI All Hazard Material Response Team goes to CUC to basically contain the spill of a chlorine leak. They will go through their standard operating procedures of what they were to do during a real-world scenario and they’ll exercise it at the chlorine site. “