PHILIPSBURG--Dutch Marines ran riot-control and disaster-relief drills to prepare for post-hurricane controls this year.

Most of the Marines who were seen driving military vehicles and running scenarios for hurricane exercises HurEx 2010 will be returning to Aruba, today, Tuesday, the Marines' public relations officer said.

The team was scheduled to arrive last week Sunday, but Hurricane Earl's passage through the Northeastern Caribbean pushed up their schedule by a day. Two other teams had arrived by Tuesday. Marines helped clean up after Earl, felled trees and placed debris on the roadsides. "We have gained good experience after Earl," detachment commander of the Marines Major Jan Willen van Dijk was quoted as saying in a press statement Monday.

Marines ran imaginary scenarios, like looters descending on Front Street after a major hurricane. They practised sedating rioters and restoring order with minimal violence. They also trained in treating and helping injured disaster victims.

These Marines, who are stationed in Aruba and Curaçao, train with local first-responder and disaster-relief teams annually to prepare for hurricanes. This year, HurEx immediately followed the glancing blow from Earl's passing.

"Marines are well trained and able to assess situations well," Van Dijk said. "Yet in this way we can dot the I's." Marines also did their usual training while here to be ready for the HurEx, Van Dijk said.