National Perspective on Emergency Management

2. National Perspective on Emergency Management CFOA Conference 2010 Celina Barrett B.A., B.Eng., M.Sc., MIEI

3. Perspective • DEHLG • Framework for Major Emergency Management and MEDP • Customised international best practice • Systems approach • Co-ordination

4. Emergency Management Levels Strategic Emergency Planning Guidance A Framework for Major Emergency management

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Co-ordination Levels

8. National Structures for Emergency Planning Government (An Taoiseach & Cabinet) National Security Committee Minister for Defence (Policy & Direction) Government Task Force on Emergency Planning Office of Emergency Planning National Steering Group Inter-Departmental Working Group on Emergency Planning

9. Response Government (An Taoiseach & Cabinet) Committee of Ministers Chaired by Minister of Lead Department Inter-Departmental Group GIS International LGD Internal Co-ordination Response Community

10. 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)

11. 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)

12. 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

13. Flooding

14. 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

15. Co-ordination • International • MIC / Offers of Assistance • Flood Maps • National • Departmental • Local Authorities

16. Information Management System • Recognised Current Situation • Issues • Strategic Aim and Priorities • Actions

17. 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

18. Eyjafjallajokull

22. Volcanic Ash Transport Lead- DEHLG in a Support Role Adopted the model used in Flooding and Snow/Ice Information Management Significant Issues

23. Framework Comparison • Co-ordination • Documentation • Information and Communication • Opportunity to progress emergency management issues

24. 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?