Major Emergency Management - the Clare experience Gerard Dollard Director of Services CFOA Annual Conference 2010

Presentation Background Flooding event Review of response Issues for consideration

Context International airport Rail line –Western rail corridor Six Seveso sites –Tier 1 site Motorway –Tunnel

Approach Training Inter agency activity Infrastructure Site visits Exercises

Exercise “Banner Rail” Wednesday 10 th June 2009 Clare County Council Offices, Ennis 9.30hrs – 13.15hrs

Flooding event (1) Problems emerging on night of Wednesday 18 th November Elements of MEP activated on morning of Thursday 19 th November Deterioration throughout Thursday and Friday Assistance of Defence Forces requested 24/7 operations put in place

Flooding event (2) River Breaches in Ennis Town Lough Girroga bursts banks Critical infrastructure threatened –ESB substation and main telecommunications mast Evacuations underway South East Clare (ESB water release) emerges as serious issue

Flooding event (2) River Breaches in Ennis Town Lough Girroga bursts banks Critical infrastructure threatened –ESB substation and main telecommunications mast Evacuations underway South East Clare (ESB water release) emerges as serious issue

Flooding event (2) River Breaches in Ennis Town Lough Girroga bursts banks Critical infrastructure threatened –ESB substation and main telecommunications mast Evacuations underway South East Clare (ESB water release) emerges as serious issue

Flooding event (3) Major issues in Ennis, South East Clare and North Clare Engagement with ESB, Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council VIP visits Professional hydrologist assessment and aerial flyovers Situation to get worse

Flooding event (3) Major issues in Ennis, South East Clare and North Clare Engagement with ESB, Limerick City Council and Limerick County Council VIP visits Professional hydrologist assessment and aerial flyovers Situation to get worse

Impacts Houses affected: –Ennis 112 –Ennis Environs 12 –North Clare 14 –South-East Clare 31 Σ = 169 Cost to businesses

EVALUATION OF RESPONSE

Overall the incident was handled well by Clare Local Authorities Strongly Agree AgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know 51 %47 %2 % Strongly Agree AgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know 24 %51 %20 %5 % The amount of resources committed to the incident was appropriate to the incident Clare Local Authorities

Very beneficial BeneficialMildly beneficial Not beneficial 78 %22 % How would you rate the benefit of Exercise Banner Rail (June 2009)? How would you rate the benefit of Exercise Rineanna (September 2008)? Very beneficial BeneficialMildly beneficial Not beneficial 36 %64 % Exercises

Very beneficial BeneficialMildly beneficial Not beneficial 60 %32 %8 % How beneficial was the Major Emergency Familiarisation Course ? How beneficial were other Major Emergency courses ? Very beneficial BeneficialMildly beneficial Not beneficial 50 %36 %14 % Training Received

Strongly Agree AgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know 31 %47 %4 %18 % Overall the inter agency response to the incident was appropriate Strongly Agree AgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know 22 %47 %31 % The frequency of the inter agency meetings was appropriate Inter Agency Response

Strongly Agree AgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know 8 %50 %10 %32 % The inter agency meetings were the principal driving force to the overall response to the incident Strongly Agree AgreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree Don’t Know 12 %49 %4 %35 % The personnel attending the inter agency meetings were the correct people Inter Agency Response

Positives Council taking the lead and having the capability to take on role Systems and facilities to support response Excellent inter agency relationships Coordinated media liaison Team approach including elected representatives Ability to manage crisis and plan ahead

Areas to consider Information flows and communication Recording of information and management of data Involvement of non principal response agencies Process for stand down of emergency structures Health, safety and welfare issues

Areas to consider Information flows and communication Recording of information and management of data Involvement of non principal response agencies Process for stand down of emergency structures Health, safety and welfare issues

General issues Use of framework other than for major emergencies Appraising other agencies e.g. ESB. Airports etc. of framework approach Structures for response outside local authority area Flood response versus snow/ice response Availability of non “blue light” personnel –24/7 response Role of the fire service Local and national focus on preparedness to continue

Major Emergency Management - the Clare experience Gerard Dollard Director of Services CFOA Annual Conference 2010