Israel was one of 27 countries to answer NATO’s recent call for an international search, rescue, and recovery exercise in Montenegro. The National Emergency Management Authority delegation from Israel included 24 people from the Ministry of Defense, the IDF Home Front Command, the Fire and Rescue Authority, and volunteers from the rescue agency ZAKA.

The international exercise enacted a scenario in which rivers in Montenegro flooded large populated areas, causing severe damage to property and residents. According to the exercise scenario, some of the bridges had collapsed, roads were destroyed, and the volunteers were mostly moving from place to place by boat.

ZAKA Divers Unit took part in a NATO exercise in Montenegro. Photo courtesy of ZAKA

ZAKA’s Divers Unit—taking part in their first-ever NATO international search—used the ZAKA Scooter, a proprietary underwater motorized scooter intended for searching for missing people underwater.

“This was a very important exercise – our first NATO exercise – with complex rescue challenges. The ability to work together with the firefighting and rescue teams from around the world allowed us to execute the task perfectly, while earning the admiration of the exercise organizers and accumulating significant knowledge for the ZAKA Divers Unit,” said ZAKA Divers Unit commander Haim Outmezgine. “Without a doubt, participating in such an exercise has given us greater knowledge and experience for use in real-life situations.”

Israeli search teams took part in a NATO exercise in Montenegro. Photo courtesy of ZAKA

(via Israel21c)

[Photo: Israel21c ]