Major Emergency Management- the Clare experience

Gerard Dollard

Director of Services

CFOA Annual Conference 2010

Presentation

• Background

• Flooding event

• Review of response

• Issues for consideration

Context

• International airport

• Rail line– Western rail corridor

• Six Seveso sites– Tier 1 site

• Motorway– Tunnel

Approach

• Training

• Inter agency activity

• Infrastructure

• Site visits

• Exercises

Exercise “Banner Rail”

Wednesday 10th June 2009

Clare County Council Offices, Ennis 9.30hrs – 13.15hrs

Flooding event (1)

• Problems emerging on night of Wednesday 18th November

• Elements of MEP activated on morning of Thursday 19th November

• Deterioration throughout Thursday and Friday

• Assistance of Defence Forces requested

• 24/7 operations put in place

Flooding event (2)

• River Breaches in Ennis Town

• Lough Girroga bursts banks

• Critical infrastructure threatened– ESB substation and main telecommunications mast

• Evacuations underway

• South East Clare (ESB water release) emerges as serious issue

Flooding event (2)

• River Breaches in Ennis Town

• Lough Girroga bursts banks

• Critical infrastructure threatened– ESB substation and main telecommunications mast

• Evacuations underway

• South East Clare (ESB water release) emerges as serious issue

Flooding event (2)

• River Breaches in Ennis Town

• Lough Girroga bursts banks

• Critical infrastructure threatened– ESB substation and main telecommunications mast

• Evacuations underway

• South East Clare (ESB water release) emerges as serious issue

Flooding event (3)

• Major issues in Ennis, South East Clare and North Clare

• Engagement with ESB, Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council

• VIP visits

• Professional hydrologist assessment and aerial flyovers

• Situation to get worse

Flooding event (3)

• Major issues in Ennis, South East Clare and North Clare

• Engagement with ESB, Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council

• VIP visits

• Professional hydrologist assessment and aerial flyovers

• Situation to get worse

Impacts

• Houses affected:– Ennis 112– Ennis Environs 12– North Clare 14– South-East Clare 31

Σ = 169

• Cost to businesses

EVALUATION OF RESPONSE

Overall the incident was handled well by Clare Local Authorities

Strongly Agree

Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Don’t Know

51 % 47 % 2 %

Strongly Agree

Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Don’t Know

24 % 51 % 20 % 5 %

The amount of resources committed to the incident was appropriate to the incident

Clare Local Authorities

Very beneficial

Beneficial Mildly beneficial

Not beneficial

78 % 22 %

How would you rate the benefit of Exercise Banner Rail (June 2009)?

How would you rate the benefit of Exercise Rineanna (September 2008)?

Very beneficial

Beneficial Mildly beneficial

Not beneficial

36 % 64 %

Exercises

Very beneficial

Beneficial Mildly beneficial

Not beneficial

60 % 32 % 8 %

How beneficial was the Major Emergency Familiarisation Course ?

How beneficial were other Major Emergency courses ?

Very beneficial

Beneficial Mildly beneficial

Not beneficial

50 % 36 % 14 %

Training Received

Strongly Agree

Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Don’t Know

31 % 47 % 4 % 18 %

Overall the inter agency response to the incident was appropriate

Strongly Agree

Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Don’t Know

22 % 47 % 31 %

The frequency of the inter agency meetings was appropriate

Inter Agency Response

Strongly Agree

Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Don’t Know

8 % 50 % 10 % 32 %

The inter agency meetings were the principal driving force to the overall response to the incident

Strongly Agree

Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

Don’t Know

12 % 49 % 4 % 35 %

The personnel attending the inter agency meetings were the correct people

Inter Agency Response

Positives

• Council taking the lead and having the capability to take on role

• Systems and facilities to support response

• Excellent inter agency relationships

• Coordinated media liaison

• Team approach including elected representatives

• Ability to manage crisis and plan ahead

Areas to consider

• Information flows and communication

• Recording of information and management of data

• Involvement of non principal response agencies

• Process for stand down of emergency structures

• Health, safety and welfare issues

Areas to consider

• Information flows and communication

• Recording of information and management of data

• Involvement of non principal response agencies

• Process for stand down of emergency structures

• Health, safety and welfare issues

General issues

• Use of framework other than for major emergencies

• Appraising other agencies e.g. ESB. Airports etc. of framework approach

• Structures for response outside local authority area

• Flood response versus snow/ice response

• Availability of non “blue light” personnel– 24/7 response

• Role of the fire service

• Local and national focus on preparedness to continue

Major Emergency Management- the Clare experience

Gerard Dollard

Director of Services

CFOA Annual Conference 2010