CULTURE OF PREPAREDNESS (MOCK EXERCISES) – AN INITIATIVE BY NDMA BY BRIG (DR) B K KHANNA, Sr. SPECIALIST (TRAINING & CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT) NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY .

MANDATE – NDMA AND VISION

1. Lay down Policy and Guidelines. 2. Approve National Disaster Management (DM) Plan and DM Plans of Ministries & Departments. 3. Coordinate enforcement and implementation of policy and plans. 4. Take Measures for :–  Prevention.  Preparedness.  Capacity Development.  Mitigation.  Awareness Generation.  Rehabilitation and Recovery. MANDATE Contd.

5. Response :–  National Executive Committee (NEC) will Coordinate the Response on behalf of the NDMA. 6. Additional :–  Recommend provision of funds for mitigation.  National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).  National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM).  Assist in Support to other Countries. MANDATE Contd.

“The National Vision is, to build a Safer and Disaster Resilient India, by developing a Holistic, Proactive, Multi-hazard and Technology-Driven Strategy for DM. This will be achieved through a Culture of Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness to generate, a prompt and efficient Response at the time of Disasters. The entire process will Centre-Stage the Community and will be provided Momentum and Sustenance through Collective efforts of all Government Agencies and Non- Governmental Organisations. VISION

Emergency Preparedness and Evolving the Concept of Mock Exercise

Defining Emergency Preparedness Emergency Preparedness – against natural & manmade hazards Building disaster resistant Infrastructure, General Awareness & Knowledge Management. Developing Capabilities Preparedness & training of first responders Community preparedness Communication plan Integrated DM Plan covering complete DN Cycle.

Testing of Emergency Preparedness Plans Training and Re-training of all stakeholders/service providers Awareness among Community Specialized response at industry/district/state/ national level Coordination between various Emergency Support Functionaries Testing the organized response through conduct of Mock Exercise

Comparing Global Models US Model: Orientation Seminar Table-top Exercise Drills Functional Exercise Full-Scale Exercise (Total Cost-in millions)

Comparing Global Models UK Model: Seminar Exercise Table-top Exercise Control Post Exercise Live Exercise

Deficiencies in Exercising Not Practiced Regularly District Admn not very confident of handling chemical disasters. No Standard Format for testing and evaluating.. ‘Off-site’ stake-holders not knowing their roles during a chemical (industrial) disaster.

Chemical Mock Exercises : Developing the Concept in Indian Context

INDUSTRIAL VULNERABILITY PROFILE OF INDIA 1. India has 602 districts, 300 districts have Major Accident Hazard (MAH) units. 170 districts have more than 05 MAH Units. 2. A total of 1856 MAH Units in India (less the storages of hazardous substances, big warehouses, small factories). ‘On Site’ plans in place of only 1807 MAH Units. 49 MAH Units not even have ‘On Site’ Plans – Hope one of these not yours!! 3. Of 300 districts, 169 districts have ‘Off Site’ plans, but most NOT as per Schedule ‘Off-site’ Mock Drills are rarely/notionally carried out.

STATUTORY PROVISIONS FOR CONDUCTING MOCK EXERCISES 1. MoEF Rules for ‘On Site’ and ‘Off Site’ Emergency Plans – DM Act, 2005 mandates NDMA to coordinate the enforcement and implementation of its policy & guidelines. 3. The Act also mandates NDMA to take such preventive measures for the prevention of disasters or the mitigation or preparedness and capacity building for dealing with a threatening disaster situation or disaster as it may consider necessary – Mock Exercise one such measure. 4. NDMA Guidelines on Chemical (Industrial) Disaster reinforces MoEF Rules, to conduct mock drills for ‘On Site Plan’ at least once every six months and ‘Off Site Plan’ at least once every year. 5. NDMA Guidelines give out the formats for ‘On Site’ and ‘Off Site’ plans as Annexures.

NEED FOR MOCK DRILL 1. To Inculcate Culture of Preparedness. 2. To Examine the Plans and SOPs of Identified Stakeholders (Industries – Public/Pvt Sector. 3. To Evaluate the Resource Status of various Departments. 4. To Coordinate the Activities of Various Agencies for their optimum utilization. 5. To use the Feed back to identify the gaps and improve the Resource Capabilities to Face Actual Disasters.

OBJECTIVES 1. To review Disaster Management Plan of the State. 2.To evaluate the Emergency Response Plan and Standard Operating Procedures of the Industry/District/sselected for Mock Exercise. 3.To highlight the Roles and Responsibilities of various Stakeholders. 4.Enhance Coordination among Emergency Support Functions of various stakeholders at District level. 5.To generate Public Awareness by involvement of Local Government, NGOs and Public. 6.Identify the gaps in Resources, Manpower, Communications and in any other field.

STEPS Step 1 1,Coordinating Conference (a)Delineating objectives of Mock Exercise. (b)Scope of Exercise. (c)Selection of the Industry/ Industries & District for Mock Exercise. (d)Date and Venue for Table Top and Mock Exercise. (e)Participants (f)Media Coverage. Step 2 2.Table Top Exercise. Precursor to Mock Exercise. Worst case scenarios simulated. Scenarios are initially painted at the operational level of the industry for ‘on site’ plan. The operational staff, supervisory staff and the management respond to various injects. When the ‘on-site’ plan is declared ‘off-site’ by the District Magistrate, the injects are targeted at the Collector/DC and other Stakeholders at District level like Director Industry, SSP, District Health Officer, Fire Officer, Public Services heads, NDRF Team Leader, Communication, Civil Defence, Home Guard, Red Cross, RTO, NGOs Public Relations etc. Responses are elicited and detailed discussion takes place. Details of Coordination and Safety are discussed. Gaps are identified and Remedial Measures taken before Mock Exercise.

Step 3 Mock Exercise. Observers are detailed and format for assessment issued. They are briefed on their roles during the Mock Exercise. Self Assessment Formats are also given to all stake holders. Scenarios are formulated after due deliberations and the Mock Exercise is conducted by painting of scenarios in a sequential manner by the Observers. Actions are taken on ground by concerned stake holders by mobilizing requisite resources on orders of their own departments. Incident Command Post is established at district level for command and control.. Relief Camp is established for evacuees. Surge capacity is created in nominated Hospitals and Medical Aid Posts are established at critical areas.

Step 4 After Action Report. Detailed debriefing session takes place after the Mock Exercise, where observers, organizers and stake-holders take part. The gaps identified are noted and a detailed after action report is made at the NDMA, which after approval is sent to the Chief Secretary and MDs of Industries for taking follow-up action. Monitoring is done at NDMA to ensure that the identified gaps are filled in a time bound manner.

Sl.HazardCoordinating Conference Table TopMock Exercise 1.FloodsFifteen 2.EarthquakeTwenty-one 3.CycloneEleven 4.Chemical (Industrial) Thirty-nine 5.School Safety Eightyy-nine-Eighty-nine 5.Terrorist attacks/ gas leaks Ten 6.Urban FireEleven Total SUMMARY OF MOCK EXERCISES SINCE 2006

STATUS OF THE INITIATIVE Total Mock Exercises Done so far States/UT covered - 33 Districts covered MAH Industries Covered Industries Sensitized Industrial workers trained - 66,200. Community sensitized />12 lac ‘On-site’ Plans made/revisited /1807 ‘Off-site’ Plans formulated - 300/169. Extensive coverage by print & electronic media. Increased demand from States, Public and even from private sector.

LESSONS LEARNT LESSONS LEARNT

LESSONS LEARNT & GAPS IDENTIFIED 1. ‘On Site’ and ‘Off Site’ plans not as per schedule 11 & 12 of MoEF Rules. Revisit and review of plans by professional disaster managers. 2. DM Plans of districts and stakeholders not matching – prepared in isolation or without mutual consultations. Need to synchronize and make plans complimentary. 3. Hazard and vulnerability assessment of units not carried out in most cases. Districts and local authorities not aware of the extent of vulnerability of hazardous material production.

4.During transportation of hazardous material, parking places to be developed along Highways for vehicles carrying such materials. 5. Medical First Responders are not available to attend to victims. Shortage of ambulances & antidotes for hazardous materials being produced in the nearby industries. 6. Search & Rescue Teams not having hand held DM equipment,like inflatable lighting tower, saws,cutters and drillers, etc. 7. Lack of modern FF eqpt & shortages in manpower. 8. Lack of requisite PPE with the responders. 9. Culture of regularly conducting Mock Exercises as per statute not existing. LESSONS LEARNT & GAPS IDENTIFIED