The National Emergency Secretariat of Paraguay (SEN) has carried out a two-day flood drill in Asunción to strengthen emergency preparedness and interagency coordination ahead of potential hydrometeorological events linked to El Niño.
The exercise took place from July 1 to 2 across several neighborhoods of the Paraguayan capital, with activities focused on testing evacuation procedures, temporary housing deployment and operational response capacity before the expected rainy season in spring and summer 2026–2027.
According to SEN, the flood drill was designed to test action protocols, improve response times and identify areas where coordination between public agencies and emergency organizations can be strengthened.
The initiative was carried out under directives from President Santiago Peña. SEN Executive Secretary Minister Colonel DEM (R) Arsenio Zárate led the drill, which included simulated family evacuations, the installation of temporary shelters and response activities in Santa Ana, San Cayetano and Chacarita.
Participating organizations included the National Police, the Armed Forces of Paraguay, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Children and Adolescents, the Ministry of Women, INDI, the Paraguayan Red Cross, the Paraguayan Volunteer Fire Department, ANDE, ESSAP and the Municipality of Asunción.
SEN said it is also reinforcing its strategic stockpile of emergency supplies at warehouses in Asunción, Coronel Oviedo, Santa Rosa del Aguaray and Villa Choferes as part of wider prevention and response planning for families that may be affected by flooding.
