On March 15th, 2017 in Vathi Samos the Operational Field Exercise for earthquake preparedness "Eupalinos 2017" was held in the context of strengthening the operational capacity of local structures. ΕPOMEA of Icaria was present and actively joined the exercise. Coordination and organization of the exercise was under the responsibility of President of Earthquake Planning and Protection Association (OASP) Mr. Efthimios Lekkas ( Professor of Dynamic Tectonics and Applied Geology, Department of Geology and Paleontology), in collaboration with the Region of North Aegean, in the presence of Regional Director Mrs. Christiana Kalogerou and led by Mr. Nikos Katrakazos and implemented by the Department of Civil Protection of the Regional Unity of Samos.

The scenario envisaged incidents in various parts of the east side of the island such as beaches of Gagou, Poseidon, the Tunnel of Eupalinos and others. The Beach Gagou scenario foresaw rescue prosedures and evacuation of the wounded, placement and use of geophones for trapped victims, extrication and transportation of victims with stretchers and flying fox techniques, while simultaneously a firefighting scenario took place in the ruined building. The first episode involved the safe and rapid evacuation of the staff of the Regional Unity of Samos from their offices.

EPOMEA members of Ikaria actively participated in the exercise, by collaborating perfectly with the Government and regional structures of Civil Protection. In the exercise, four volunteers participated by successfully completing two scenarios - missions:

1. Immobilization – Provision of First Aid and transportation of injured victims from a building that suffered partial landslide due to seismic activity, fire extinguishing inside the collapsed building and transportation of "dead" victims from the rubble.
2. Immobilization – Provision of First Aid and transportation of injured victims from a building that suffered partial landslide due to seismic activity, transporting wounded from the roof of the building to the street through technical airlift.

In the exercise, nine local forces took part from an organizational or practical perspective: the Municipality of Samos, the Fire Service of Samos, the 79th ADTE, the firefighters of Vathi and Paleokastro, the Greek Police, the HCG-ELAK, EMS, the Genaral Hospital of Samos, the DEDIE, the CAA, the Diver's Association of Samos, the Samos Volunteers and EOD Samos

At the end of the exercise, participation certificates were awarded to the volunteers from Ms. Christiana Kalogerou of the Region of North and the person in charge, Mr. Katrakazos Nikos. In his brief speech, a member of EP.OM.E.A. Ikaria, Mr. Dimitrios Lesses thanked all present functions for inviting the EPOMEA team to participate in the exercise and made positive comments on the organization and conduct of the exercise.

The State acquired a new Civil Protection pillar that acts on a volunteering base with professional standards.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc0Q-qePEgg

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnXImouiSG

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rXrCfcPtpk