REVISED STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN (SERP)

Revised State Emergency Response Plan (SERP) SERP overview SERP revision SERP compliance Agency roles Aim and priorities for emergency response Major emergencies Non-major emergencies Operational roles and responsibilities Collaborative teams Team membership Where next? Where to find…… Agency roles

SERP overview The SERP is Victoria’s primary emergency response document. The SERP outlines the arrangements for: ‘the coordinated response to all emergencies by all agencies with a role or responsibility in emergency response’ Not about the technical response to specific emergencies. This is in agency operational plans. SERP sub-plans outline agreed variations for specific emergencies

SERP revision A revision was required to: apply to all types and scale of emergency align with legislation (e.g. Control Bill) reflect current practice (e.g. management of major emergencies) be more readable WOVG consultation Revised SCRC approved on 24 March – now ‘whole of government’ document.

SERP compliance Takes effect on 1 August 2016 – current SERP applies until then. Section 55A of the Emergency Management Act 2013 introduced (intended date – 1 August 2016). All agencies with a role or responsibility in the response to Class 1 or 2 emergencies must comply with the arrangements in the SERP. Agency response roles are part of the SERP – listed in the EMMV Part 7 – Emergency Management Agency Role. Agency roles are currently being confirmed. Agencies are required to comply with their listed role.

Agency roles Agency roles in Class 1 and 2 emergencies include: Response roles (for specific hazards) Support roles Relief and recovery roles Roles of departments and service providers in ensuring the continuity of services to the community during an emergency, as part of consequence management. Each agency performs its emergency response role according to its legislation and agency work arrangements. This does not change – regardless of the size or scale of emergency.

Aim and priorities for emergency response Aim To minimise the effect and consequences of emergencies on people, their livelihoods and wellbeing, property and the environment, and to meet basic human needs. Priorities There are many competing risks during an emergency response. State emergency management priorities identify top priorities are: the primacy of life the issuing of warnings and information to assist people make informed decisions about their safety.

Major emergencies Emergencies in Victoria are either major or non-major. Some indicators of a major are the potential for the emergency to have:  significant consequences on the community or a section of the community or  for the emergency to cause extensive damage to property, infrastructure or the environment. Major emergencies are managed as State events, in accordance with the Emergency Management Act 2013 Many agencies are involved State and regional tiers are active These arrangements apply to major emergencies or where major emergencies are anticipated to occur.

Major emergencies - classes Class 1 emergencies Natural emergencies such as major fire and flood Class 2 emergencies Major human health and agricultural emergencies Major essential service disruption Class 3 emergencies Security-related emergencies such as a siege, riot or terrorist attack.

Non-major emergencies Managed only at the incident tier Informal response Managed through BAU of industry, agencies or government Formal response Led by control agency ( agency with primary responsibility for responding to the form of emergency) Managed according to control agency procedures (control agency normally appoints an incident controller) The control agency hierarchy must have notification systems for incident controllers to report on:  significant events or  the potential for an emergency to become a major emergency. Control agency must notify the EMC of:  major emergencies or  situations that affect the capability of the agency to perform its role or responsibilities.

Operational roles and responsibilities Coordination Response coordination Ensures effective arrangements are in place for an emergency response and the relevant agencies are involved.  The EMC - Class 1 and 2 emergencies (state)  The Chief Commissioner of Police is responsible for coordinating the response to Class 3 emergencies (state)  RERCs – regional coordination  MERCs – municipal coordination Recovery coordination Control Specific arrangements apply to Class 1, 2, 3 and non-major emergencies. Command Remains in agencies Consequence management Communication

Operational roles - Class 1 emergencies Response coordination ControlCommand Consequence management Communication State Emergency Management Commissioner (liaises with RERCs and MERCs through the SPLO) State Response Controller Agency chain of command Emergency Management Commissioner (State Consequence Manager) all agencies Emergency Management Commissioner (supported by the line of control) RegionRERC regional controller all agencies IncidentMERC / IERC incident controller all agencies

Operational roles - Class 2 emergencies Response coordination ControlCommand Consequence management Communication State Emergency Management Commissioner (liaises with RERCs and MERCs through the SPLO) Class 2 state controller Agency chain of command Emergency Management Commissioner (State Consequence Manager) all agencies Emergency Management Commissioner (supported by the line of control) RegionRERC regional controller (if appointed) all agencies IncidentMERC / IERC incident controller (if appointed) all agencies

Operational roles - Class 3 emergencies Response coordination ControlCommand Consequence management Communication State Chief Commissioner of Police Victoria Police chain of command Agency chain of command Emergency Management Commissioner (State Consequence Manager) all agencies Chief Commissioner of Police RegionRERCall agencies IncidentMERC / IERCall agencies

Operational roles – non-major emergencies Response coordinationControlCommand Consequence management Communication State Emergency Management Commissioner (liaises with RERCs and MERCs through the SPLO) - Agency chain of command -- RegionRERC--- IncidentMERC / IERC incident controller all agenciesIncident controller

Collaborative teams Primary function supported by the team Control Response coordination Relief and recovery coordination Communications Consequence management State tier State Coordination Team State Control Team Emergency Management Joint Public Information Committee State Emergency Management Team State Relief and Recovery Team Regional tier Regional Control Team Regional Emergency Management Team Regional Recovery Planning Committee or equivalent* Incident tier Incident Management Team (major emergencies Incident Emergency Management Team (major emergencies) Municipal Recovery Planning Committee or equivalent* Incident Emergency Management Team (non-major emergencies)

Team membership Team membership will vary according to the team and the tier, but generally includes:  the relevant response coordinator  controllers, responsible for leading the response to specific classes of emergency  agency commanders, responsible for supervising agency personnel  local government representatives, as the primary source of information on the local community  relief and recovery coordinators/managers, to ensure relief and recovery activities are integrated with response activities  representatives of government departments and service providers, responsible for managing the consequences of the emergency on service provision to the community.

Where next? State emergency management reform is expected to continue for some time. This version of the SERP confirms the current State emergency response arrangements and is agreed by the whole of government. It provides a good basis from which to negotiate further improvements.

Where to find…. The revised SERP and communication materials relating to the revised SERP. The current SERP is published as part of the Emergency Management Manual Victoria (EMMV). This link will be updated on 1 August SERP sub-plans are approved variations to the SERP.