Manchester Twp. Resident, Staff Sgt. Pamela Smejkal, part of a New Jersey National Guard Emergency Management Team, went to Tirana, Albania to train Albanian officials on emergency management operations and to evaluate the needs of the Albanian Regional Protection Brigade from Jan. 12-17.

      The New Jersey National Guard is partnered with the country of Albania through the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The State Partnership Program was established in 1993 to assist emerging democracies of Eastern Europe develop governmental systems which support democratic principles, market economies and humanitarian assistance.

      The team, consisting of Joint Domestic Office of Military Support Director Col. Dennis Devery, Chief of Emergency Operations; Sgt. Maj. Lisa Homan and Smejkal briefed the commander and staff of the Albanian Regional Protection Brigade on the structure, procedures and coordination of effective Emergency Management operations using the U.S. National Response Plan and New Jersey Emergency Management Plans as the models.

      Albania, which is about the same size as New Jersey, has established an Emergency Management structure similar to New Jersey. Albanian Emergency Management is the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior with support from other government agencies including the Regional Protection Brigade which is part of the Ministry of Defense. This structure is similar to New Jersey where the N.J. State Police is responsible for Emergency Management with support from other government agencies including the New Jersey National Guard. The Regional Protection Brigade has units stationed throughout Albania to support local emergency responders just like the National Guard has armories throughout New Jersey.

      The Team met with Col. Xhevdet Zeneli, Commander of the Regional Protection Brigade, and the subordinate commanders of every unit assigned to the Regional Protection Brigade. The commanders advised the New Jersey National Guard Emergency Management Team of the types of disasters they face in their respective regions and how their organizations typically respond to them. The Team noted that the similarities to New Jersey are surprising. The Albanians annually respond to floods along their coast and major rivers. In addition, they have forest fires, snow emergencies and the occasional earthquake.