Coordinating Good Practices - Flooding Superintendent Ian Birnie - Grampian Police & Inspector Paul Scobbie - Tayside Police

How do emergency plans best adapt to new advance forecasting, include severe weather warnings and risk-based approaches?

How do Police Forces best co-ordinate with other groups (notably SEPA, the Met Office, the other emergency responders as well as the public) in response to the flood emergencies of varying scale, including during the recovery phase?

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Consequences Not cause

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Use of Forecast Data to give an indication of the possibility of a flood event including likely duration, speed of thaw, coverage etc to show specifically where flood events may take affect, areas requiring to be monitored etc to provide a heads up warning to agencies, control rooms, duty officers, volunteers, utilities etc

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Use of Local data Local Authorities provide SCG partners with very good local information as to how bad a flood event is likely to get based on historical monitoring. Local farmers in particular have a vested interest in monitoring and comparing the scale of flood events.

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Co-ordination Arrangements It is generally accepted that the Police will co-ordinate multi-agency arrangements in preparing for and responding to weather events including flood events. This replicates existing arrangements for many land based type incidents. Agencies are familiar with this process and know how they fit in.

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Triggers to be considered increase in number of weather/flood related public assistance calls increase in partner assets deployed to weather/flood related incidents disruption to transport or infrastructure worsening weather conditions benefit from agencies working together

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Tactical Co-ordination Tactical Command Centre – usually within a Police building Actual meetings or virtual meetings via teleconference and/or videoconference Updates and Sitreps from multi-agency partners including utilities Liaison with Scottish Government via co- ordinators or EPO’s Media issues – sharing of joint agreed responses Circulations of actions etc to partners.

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Meetings Introductions Matters for Immediate Attention Set/confirm objectives Forecast Matters arising/action log Cat 1 Updates Cat 2 Updates Actions and Priorities Public Communications Future Co-ordination arrangements AOB T/DONM Note of meeting and action log circulated within an hour

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Operational Activity Police Co-ordinate the overall response Convene multi- agency meetings to identify priorities Set up supporting infrastructure – RVP, diversions, Forward Control Point etc Fire and Rescue Responsibility for Flood Rescue Co-ordinate all rescue activity in the “hot zone.” Identify assets required and task them appropriately Risk assess taskings

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Lessons Learned Need for specific plans Need for accurate data to make proper assessment of scale of events – build a picture Ensure all contact numbers are in place Make decisions early Consider media and public warning at earliest stages

TAYSIDE POLICE Making a Difference Lessons Learned Storage and distribution of sand bags and signs Assets and capability register Team Typing and Team Tasking