Background on Laura Velázquez and Her Role
Laura Velázquez, the National Coordinator for Civil Protection, announced the first national drill of 2025 during a morning press conference. This drill aims to engage approximately 7 million people and over 89,000 properties across the nation.
Collaborative Effort for National Preparedness
The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, in collaboration with the National Coordination for Civil Protection, has invited public and private institutions, as well as the general public, to participate in the First National Drill 2025. The drill is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th at 11:30 AM across the entire national territory.
Regional Hypothesis and Tsunami Simulacro
According to the government’s information, in central Mexico, the hypothesis for this drill will be an 8.1 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Additionally, there will be a tsunami simulacro in the Pacific Ocean, coordinated by the Navy Secretariat.
Advancements in National Alert System
Mexico is on the verge of a significant milestone in civil protection by becoming the second American continent country, after Chile, to have a centralized national alert system. This new system will enable the sending of emergency messages directly to millions of mobile phones nationwide.
Testing the Alert System
As part of the preparation exercise, during the upcoming drill, there will be a test of the alert system in Mexico City and its metropolitan area. The alert, which includes a written message and an auditory signal, will be sent for the second time since its implementation in September 2024. It is estimated to reach around five million mobile devices.
Statewide Sismic Alert Activation
Moreover, the national drill will activate the Sismic Alert System in 12 states: Ciudad de México, Estado de México, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Chiapas, and Veracruz. The alerts will be transmitted through more than 14,000 public speakers, as well as radio and television.
Importance of Citizen Participation
Given Mexico’s constant exposure to natural phenomena that could lead to disasters, the Mexican government emphasizes the need to strengthen the culture of civil protection and emergency response capabilities.
Consequences of Inaction
During emergencies, the consequences can be severe: human losses, damage to heritage, and infrastructure. Authorities stress the importance of active citizen participation in preventive exercises like drills to build a more resilient society prepared for any eventuality.
Post-Drill Evaluation
Following the National Drill 2025, a session of the National Emergencies Committee will be held, presided over by Omar García Harfuch, the head of the Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat. The meeting will include federal cabinet members and the 32 state governors to assess institutional responses during emergency scenarios.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Laura Velázquez and what is her role? Laura Velázquez is the National Coordinator for Civil Protection, who announced the first national drill of 2025.
- What is the purpose of the First National Drill 2025? The drill aims to engage approximately 7 million people and over 89,000 properties across Mexico to test preparedness for emergencies.
- What is the regional hypothesis for this drill? In central Mexico, the hypothesis will be an 8.1 magnitude earthquake with its epicenter in the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
- What advancements will the new national alert system bring? The new system will enable sending emergency messages directly to millions of mobile devices nationwide.
- How will the alert system be tested during the drill? The alert, including a written message and an auditory signal, will be sent to around five million mobile devices for the second time since its implementation.
- In which states will the Sismic Alert System be activated? The system will be activated in 12 states: Ciudad de México, Estado de México, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Morelos, Tlaxcala, Chiapas, and Veracruz.
- Why is citizen participation crucial in such drills? Active citizen participation is essential to build a more resilient society prepared for any eventuality and to minimize the consequences of emergencies.
- What will happen after the National Drill 2025? A session of the National Emergencies Committee will be held to evaluate institutional responses during emergency scenarios.
