National Perspective on Emergency Management

CFOA Conference 2010Celina Barrett B.A., B.Eng., M.Sc., MIEI

Perspective

• DEHLG– Framework for

Major Emergency Management and MEDP

– Customised international best practice

– Systems approach

– Co-ordination

Emergency Management Levels

Strategic Emergency Planning Guidance

A Framework for Major Emergency management

Strategic Level Emergency

An event, incident or situation, that may present a serious threat to the welfare of the population, the environment, the political, administrative, economic stability or the security of the state, which will require the political and strategic involvement of the Government.

Strategic Emergency Planning Guidance

• Defines Government, Ministerial and Departmental roles in a strategic context

• Lead Government Department• Principal Support Departments/Agencies• Other Support Departments/ Agencies

Co-ordination Levels

National Structures for Emergency Planning

Government

(An Taoiseach & Cabinet)

Minister for Defence

(Policy & Direction)

Government Task Force on Emergency Planning

Inter-Departmental Working Group on

Emergency Planning

National Security

Committee

Office of Emergency

PlanningNational Steering Group

Response

GIS

Government(An Taoiseach & Cabinet)

Committee of MinistersChaired by Minister of Lead

Department

Inter-Departmental Group

International

LGD Internal

Co-ordination

Response Community

National Emergency Co-ordination Centre (NECC)

• DEHLG initiated, building on NEPNA experiences

• Designed for purpose facility

• Meeting rooms, break-out rooms and work-stations

• Secure communications (encryption)

Recent National Level Crises

• Foot and Mouth (2001)

• Pork Crisis (2008)

• ‘Flu Pandemic (2009)

• Flooding (November 2009)

• Snow and Ice (January 2010)

• Volcanic Ash (April 2010)

DEHLG Preparedness

• Notification of Major Emergency Declaration to DEHLG– 1800 303 063 (24/7/365)

• Standard Operational Procedure

• Internal Exercises– Internal Mobilisation and Team

Formation– Contact with other Departments

Flooding

Flooding• Activation• Key Objective

– Whole of Government Support those managing the response locally

• Key Players– Political

– Technical

– Administrative

– Communication

• Significant Issues• Learning Points at National Level

Co-ordination

• International– MIC / Offers of Assistance– Flood Maps

• National

• Departmental

• Local Authorities

Information Management System

• Recognised Current Situation

• Issues• Strategic Aim and

Priorities• Actions

Ice and Snow• Activation

• Key Objective- – Minimise the disruptive impact on society and the economy and support

local response

• Key Players

• Significant Issues– Domino effect

• Learning Points at National Level

• Information Management

Eyjafjallajokull

Volcanic Ash

• Transport Lead- DEHLG in a Support Role

• Adopted the model used in Flooding and Snow/Ice

• Information Management

• Significant Issues

Framework Comparison

• Co-ordination

• Documentation

• Information and Communication

• Opportunity to progress emergency management issues

Conclusions

• Experience of the Framework, MEDP and NEPNA exercises

• Framework used to varying degrees and generally judged successful

• Framework is now the benchmark• National Level model that we have refined

works and adopted by others• New Framework for National Level linking

all levels?