Swiss UNECE exercise

1. Swiss UNECE exercise UNECE Fourth Consultations of Point of Contacts Zagreb, 25 and 26 March 2010 Dr. Dominique Rauber, National Emergency Operations Centre

2. Outline • Introduction • Scenario • Main results • Lessons identified and challenges Referent oder Herausgeber

3. Switzerland GERMANY FRANCE AUSTRIA 26 cantons, each responsible for emergency management in case of an chemical accident ITALY Referent oder Herausgeber

4. Structure of the organisation Support Special federal team UNECE Competent authority Special cantonal team Notification Local Emergency Management Agency UNECE National Point of Contact Consultation UNECE National Point of Contact GER and FRA On-site Command Post Local competent Authority Scene of Accident Referent oder Herausgeber

5. Scenario Referent oder Herausgeber

6. Scenario • Start of the hypothetical event: • Collision between a delivery van and a fork lift truck on the premises of the Swiss harbour of “AU” • Batch spread on the street, glass flask broken • Persons involved in the incident lying on the street near the vehicles and some with odd symptoms • Persons observing the scene call in the fire brigades • Due to odd symptoms of the incident’s involved persons rescue actions are stopped and special forces are called in Referent oder Herausgeber

7. Scenario • Background of the scenario: • Terrorist were planning an attack with Sarin in a Swiss city. • Sarin was transported on a Ship from Rotterdam to Basel • The incident happens when the car of the terrorists is leaving the harbour with the chemical agents to be transport it to the targeted city • The wind is blowing in direction of Germany Referent oder Herausgeber

8. Scenario Germany • According to the scenario • first responders have to face an unclear and unknown situation • The chemical substance is highly toxic • German territory can be affected very quickly Switzerland Accident place Referent oder Herausgeber

9. Main events during the exercise Referent oder Herausgeber

10. Main Results • Very quick notification of the National Emergency Operations Centre by the canton • Very limited information not only at the beginning of the event • Follow-up information only given by the local authorities at additional request • Difficult decision when to notify neighbouring countries (soft criteria in this case) • Immediate acknowledgment (through the IAN-System) of the German Point of Contact • Message not read by the French Point of Contact • No interaction between Point of Contacts Referent oder Herausgeber

11. Lessons indentified • Do not rely on the IAN-system only – get in touch with your partners in your neighbouring countries if necessary • Regular communication tests with neighbouring countries necessary • Every local exercise should be used to train the IAN procedures with or without participation of neighbouring countries • Regular training of staff in translating “raw information” into IAN messages • Take advantage of every opportunity to rise awareness on the local level regarding national and international needs Referent oder Herausgeber

12. Challenges • Rise awareness – local authorities have to face their own problems • 26 cantons with different solutions • Get the right information at the right time • Knowledge of the organisation on the local level of each canton • Translate the received information into English - special vocabulary • Criteria when to notify neighbouring countries if threat not clear • Deal with an emergency situation with international media coverage Referent oder Herausgeber

13. Lessons indentified regarding exercise preparation • Use local full scale exercises but make sure that: • the international information exchange is clearly stated as an objective of the exercise • scenario meets the objectives • the master event list contains the necessary injects • the time frame of the exercise allows for an international notification and information exchange • Realistic situation which reflects the real challenges is difficult to simulate (media pressure, request from abroad?) Referent oder Herausgeber

14. Straight forward part of information exchange Referent oder Herausgeber

15. Challenging part of information exchange Referent oder Herausgeber

16. Consequences and further steps • Preparedness activities • Agree with neighbouring countries to regularly test the communication channels of Points of Contact (IAN-System, phone and fax) • Rise awareness on the local level for national needs • Knowledge of structures, means and procedures • Intensifying the training with the NOEC staff • For exercises • Seek participation of NEOC in local exercises if scenario allows for international information exchange • Close collaboration in the preparation, conduct and evaluation of such exercises • Address international aspects (together with impact of the media on emergency management) during preparation of exercises Referent oder Herausgeber

17. Further challenges Neighbouring countries under UNECE IAN Local level National level World Health Organisatoin IHR* ??? Others? How to avoid duplication and inconsistencies? *International Health Regulation Referent oder Herausgeber