the essential
A flood simulation exercise allowed middle school students from the priority districts of Montauban to experience behind the scenes of crisis management at the departmental operational center of Tarn-et-Garonne, Monday October 28, 2024.
120 people evacuated from a hospital, 30 more from a campsite, roads blocked, in the Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val and Montricoux sector following a flood in the Aveyron… The scenario of this simulation, designed by the services of the Tarn-et-Garonne prefecture, was perfectly orchestrated, Monday October 28 at the departmental operational center (COD), to put fifteen middle school students from the priority districts of Montauban into the swing of things.
Fourth and third year students from the Ingres and Olympe-de-Gouges colleges, in particular, chose to give up their lie-in while the second week of All Saints' Day holidays has just begun, to participate in the day of action in the face of risks, previously called National Resilience Day (JNR).
“I wanted to find out how it happens when people find themselves in danger,” says Arno, a young fourteen-year-old rugby player, a student at Ingres college who has taken on the role of leader of the “COD”. Not easy, however, for the young man who must supervise the exercise. “Learn to be silent,” one of the prefecture agents whispers to him.
— Please… I have an announcement to make, Arno continues the thread, in a thin voice, having to inform the entire room of the progress of the emergency services.
— Louder!, the agent ordered him.
They discover what a prefect is
Before getting to the heart of the matter, it was Vincent Roberti himself who welcomed them. Chosen by one of the four partner associations of this event, this group of adolescents interacts for the first time with the prefect and, in the vast majority, discovers what this very abstract function represents for them. “One of the objectives of this day is to bring young people far removed from the role and missions of the State into this crisis management room, open for the first time to the public,” indicates Prefect Roberti.
A unique opportunity for these young people to meet directly with representatives of the gendarmerie, firefighters or even agents of the departmental council and the prefecture, i.e. nearly ten professionals mobilized to participate in this simulation.
“Seeing their involvement from the start, they lent themselves to the game by realizing both the challenges of a crisis situation and the missions which then fall to state agents,” continues Vincent Roberti, who takes the time to chat with some of the young participants before getting back to his agenda.
Coming to support one of his men, Colonel Roger Alvès, second in command of the Tarn-et-Garonne gendarmerie group, takes the time to explain the reading of a topographical map projected on the giant screen in the room of crisis.
“Here they approach in a concrete and direct way a facet of our profession in exceptional situations,” confirms the officer who will perhaps awaken a vocation in one of these college students…