Colombia is preparing for the National Emergency Simulacr: timetables and recommendations

Colombia will conduct its National Emergency Response Drill 2026 on Wednesday, October 21, involving municipalities from all 32 departments of the country. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, known as UNGRD, confirmed that 1,046 municipalities have registered for the exercise. Approximately 48,000 public and private entities, along with more than 5,000 communities, will participate to test their emergency plans, self-protection measures, and coordination mechanisms. The primary goal is to identify weaknesses and improvement opportunities in emergency planning, communication, and inter-agency coordination to strengthen response capabilities against life-threatening situations. The drill consists of two distinct phases with specific objectives. The first phase begins at 10:00 a.m. and targets citizens, families, educational institutions, public and private entities, and social organizations. During this hour, participants will evaluate their risk management plans, action protocols, communication channels, and self-protection measures. The specific scenario for each location depends on local threats and conditions. In many municipalities, the focus will be on earthquakes, meaning alarms may sound and evacuations may occur. Other regions will test protocols for floods, fires, or landslides based on locally identified risks. The second phase starts at 2:00 p.m. and is directed at territorial authorities responsible for disaster risk management, including mayoralties and governorates. This segment aims to validate Territorial Emergency Response Strategies, focusing on decision-making processes and institutional articulation. According to UNGRD, nearly 46 percent of the registered municipalities will take part in both phases. Authorities clarified that these are not alternative time slots for individuals to choose when to evacuate. Instead, the schedule reflects different operational levels within the national framework. Participation does not mandate that everyone abandon their homes, offices, or schools. Actions depend on the chosen scenario and the procedures being evaluated. Appropriate responses might include evacuation, sheltering in safe locations, or other protective measures tailored to the specific threat. Each participant should know in advance what actions are required and verify whether planned procedures function effectively. The overarching theme for the 2026 drill is "Resilience starts at home." This approach encourages families to identify environmental threats, recognize their own capacities, and define actions for before, during, and after emergencies. UNGRD advises households to review exit routes, designate meeting points, and update emergency contact lists prior to the exercise. Families should distribute responsibilities so all members understand how to proceed. Special consideration must be given to children, elderly adults, and persons with disabilities or reduced mobility who may require assistance. Households with pets should determine who is responsible for them and plan for basic necessities such as water, food, medication, and secure transportation methods. Organizations, including companies, schools, and residential complexes, must adapt the exercise to their specific conditions and risks. This involves reviewing emergency plans, communication protocols, team responsibilities, and protective measures. In community settings, the activity serves to verify that neighbors know evacuation routes and can coordinate effectively. UNGRD also recommended strengthening preparation for potential effects of the El Niño phenomenon, taking into account climate perspectives provided by the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies. The unit invited all entities, communities, and citizens to join the day’s activities. Preparation requires that every individual understands their role and knows how to act to protect themselves and others. The evaluation criteria extend beyond physical evacuation drills to assess communication efficiency, information access, and decision-making speed among different actors. By identifying gaps in current systems, the nation aims to enhance its overall capacity to respond to future disasters. The exercise underscores the importance of continuous readiness at both the household and institutional levels.