Dealing with Nature’s Wild Cards Chief Superintendent Peter McKechnie Australian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council

NEW SOUTH WALES EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Historical NSW emergencies

Emergency Management in NSW

State Emergency & Rescue Management Act 1989 Outlines the responsibilities and requirements of agencies responding to some incidents, such as rescues, as well as large scale incidents or emergencies. It sets out the roles, functions and tasking of individuals and assists in the co-ordination of a multi ‑ agency response. There have been a number of reviews of the legislation which have been relatively minor in nature.

State Emergency Management Plan The State Disaster Plan (EMPLAN) detailed emergency preparedness, response and recovery arrangements for New South Wales to ensure a co-ordinated approach by all agencies having responsibilities and functions during such events. This document is currently undergoing a review and is expected to be renamed the State Emergency Management Plan. Emergency Management Plans are also drafted at Local and Regional levels.

Sub & Supporting Plans Sub Plans have been prepared to deal with specific hazards. These are prepared when the planning required is either more specialised or more detailed than can be provided for in DISPLAN. State Bush Fire Sub Plan, Major Structure Collapse Sub Plan Supporting Plans outline arrangements for groups of agencies which may be acting in a supporting role during emergency operations. Welfare Services Supporting Plan, Public Information Services Supporting Plan

Operational Relationships Premier Minister(s) SEOCON / Combat Agency Head REOCON / Combat Agency LEOCON / Combat Agency State Emergency Management Committee Region Emergency Management Committee Local Emergency Management Committee SERCON Recovery Co-ordinators

Control of Operations EMPLAN identifies, in relation to each different form of emergency, an agency (known as a combat agency) primarily responsible for controlling the response to a particular hazard. Responsibility for the control of emergencies for which no combat agency has been nominated is vested in the respective Emergency Operations Controller (eg. earthquakes, landslides). A combat agency may request an Emergency Operations Controller to accept responsibility for all or part of an emergency operation (eg. evacuation management).

Combat Agencies EmergencyResponsible Agency Animal & Plant Disease, Rodent & Insect Plague Department of Primary Industries Fire (within Fire District)Fire & Rescue NSW Fire (within Rural Fire District)NSW Rural Fire Service Food IndustryNSW Food Authority Floods & StormNSW State Emergency Services Hazardous MaterialsFire & Rescue NSW / Relevant Port HeatwaveEmergency Operations Controller Law EnforcementNSW Police Force Marine Oil & Chemical SpillsRelevant Port Authority PandemicNSW Health Search & RescueNSW Police Force Major Structure CollapseFire & Rescue NSW TerrorismNSW Police Force TsunamiNSW State Emergency Service

SEOCON State Emergency Operations Controller is a legislative appointment which is to be the Commissioner of Police or designated member of NSWPF Senior Executive. Responsible for emergencies where there is no designated combat agency or when control assumed. Responsible for co-ordinating the provision of support to combat agencies during emergencies. Responsible for establishing a State Emergency Operations Centre. Is the authorised State Officer for seeking Commonwealth Government assistance (including Defence).

Functional Areas Category of services recognised by the SERM Act that support combat agencies through the PPRR process: (a) Agriculture and Animal services (b) Communication services (c) Energy & Utility services (d)Engineering services (e) Environmental services (f) Health services (g) Public Information services (h) Transport services (i) Welfare services

Recovery Arrangements The State Emergency Recovery Controller is responsible for the co-ordination of recovery functions. Formal recovery arrangements were adopted in 2010 following the Western Sydney Hailstorms in A State Recovery Plan outlines arrangements to be employed following a natural disaster or terrorism incident. Generally, Recovery Committees and/or Co-ordinators are positioned to facilitate restoration and support to affected communities.

Collaboration & Planning

Partnerships & Community Engagement