National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies - Coursework Example

National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies In the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies, the government of the UK documents the results of civil risk emergency assessments. The register has critical information on the occurrence of civil risk emergencies. Several risks are listed as having the possibility of occurring in the UK. In response, the government has various measures in place to control these risk emergencies. The civil risk emergencies below can occur in the UK: disease pandemics, volcanic eruptions, severe space weather, coastal flooding and catastrophic terrorist attacks, public disorder, animal diseases, wild fires and attacks on crowded places (Cabinet Office 2013). Risks such as severe weather, cyber security, transport accidents, unconventional attacks, and public disorder among others may also occur. Risks assessed, their qualification and quantification The National Risk Register of emergencies carries the assessed risks and the outcome of the assessment. Many risks were found to have a high probability of happening. Examples include disease pandemics, volcanic eruptions, severe space weather, coastal flooding and catastrophic terrorist attacks, public disorder, animal diseases, wild fires and attacks on crowded places (Cabinet Office 2013). Risks such as severe weather, cyber security, transport accidents, unconventional attacks, public disorder, major industrial accidents, animal diseases, disruptive industrial action and destruction of infrastructure may also occur. Risk assessment was done using numerical modeling as well as historical analyses. These methods were used for analyzing risks that occur naturally as well as those that take place accidentally. So as to get an outcome researchers used a combination of numerical modeling, expert judgment and historical analysis. The accuracy of the result of the assessment is enhanced when this combination is used. The qualification and quantification of risks was done in consideration of the number of people dying because of a given risk emergency. The diseases and the injuries sustained by people as a result of the emergency were also used in the process. The level of social disruption seen in the victims’ lives was also used for assessment purposes. For the risk assessment, there were different types of social disruption examined (Cabinet Office 2013). The assessment also considered the damage caused to the economy as well as other impacts to the economy caused by risk emergencies. The process of qualification and quantification was also done based on the victim’s psychological effect such as outrage, anxiety and loss of confidence. The assessment was based on a scale of 0-5 and the mean score was used to show the general impact. Main results The main results show that man made and natural risks are bound to affect the people in the U K. The results touch on the risk of coastal floods, severe space weather, disease pandemics, terrorist attacks and volcanic hazards. Human disease (influenza pandemic) is the most probable risk (Cabinet Office 2013). There are some examples of new diseases that could have an impact on the U K. One of the shortcomings of the report is that it does not list all the harmful diseases. It would have been a better report if the researches provided an entire list of the new diseases. The fact that the list is not full creates the impression that the diseases mentioned can possibly occur while those not mentioned are less significant and that they may never occur. However, the report has valuable information on the action the government is taking to counter risk emergency outcomes (Cabinet Office 2013). The results also indicate that many people lack immunity against pandemic influenza. The report shows that experts agree about the possible future occurrence of another influenza pandemic. However, the confession that experts could not predict when the pandemic will take place or its impact might erode people’s confidence in the report. The report should have equipped the reader with all the details about a future pandemic. This is a limitation since the reader expects to get all relevant details in the report. The report has no assurance about the occurrence or failure of the pandemic to occur (Cabinet Office 2013). This puts the readers in an awkward position because they cannot believe what the researcher seem not to be sure of. Some conclusions were arrived at based on scientific information, modeling and historical information. The report says that globally, many people will catch infections, in the UK, approximately 500,000 people may show symptoms and that the pandemic may affect organizations. It is obvious that these are not specific estimations since they leave out specific details such as the magnitude of the losses that organizations will incur. The report also claims that there is no possibility of occurrence for new infectious diseases. This is only possible if the origin of the disease is not within the UK. However, there is no evidence given to prove that the UK is such a unique place that no new disease can start from there. The report falls short of supporting this prediction (Cabinet Office 2013). The report says that coastal flooding could occur in the UK. Climate change is believed to be the biggest potential cause of floods. Flooding is classified as one of the big risks that have the highest likelihood of taking place. The UK may suffer from coastal floods, floods from rivers and more floods from rainfall. If there can be a failure in dams and reservoirs, then floods can occur. This prediction is also limited. Given that the UK is so big, this report could have provided the specific areas where floods can arise and the impact and magnitude of these floods. In the report, the reader cannot find the specific areas where floods are expected to arise. However, the reader can get confidence in the report given that it mentions the measures the government is putting in place to counter future risk impacts (Cabinet Office 2013). Volcanic eruption is mentioned as a significant risk. The report shows that a volcanic eruption cannot take place in the UK, but the UK may feel the impact of such an eruption happening in neighboring countries. People’s health, the environment and aviation are some of the things that a volcanic eruption can affect. The volcanic eruption could also have a disrupting effect on the economy as well as on different supply chains. In case of an eruption, Iceland volcanoes could have the greatest impact because they are so active (Cabinet Office 2013). Talking about volcanic eruptions, there is an elaborate coverage of public health and environmental impacts that the UK must anticipate. The report also predicts the occurrence of catastrophic terrorist attacks. However, it does not mention specific areas as possible terrorist targets. It has no mention of the places in the UK with the highest levels of vulnerability. Differences in Practice There are different responses from the government about the results shown. Consequently, there are so many things being done in preparation for the occurrence of any risk emergency (Cabinet Office 2013). However, this analysis only features those steps taken for the major risks. The government has initiated a number of changes in preparation for risk emergencies. About disease pandemics, the government of the UK is collaborating with partners from the international community that will enable detection processes, research and prevention measures for disease pandemics. It also has measures to control the impacts and spread of these pandemics. The government has plans for stocking anti-virals that can be used by a half of the UK population. The government is also planning for advance purchase agreements which will open doors for vaccines to be brought in. The government is trying to reduce the possibility of floods occurring by implementing the flood risk management program. It is also implementing institutional plans to be used in managing surface water (Cabinet Office 2013). There are other measures being instituted to lower the risk of floods in places where they can occur. Flood devolving in Scotland has been completed and there are other related activities on course. When it comes to volcanic eruptions, there is the International Volcano Watch whose job is to coordinate and disseminate information about volcanic eruptions that may affect the environment (Cabinet Office 2013).The department of energy, the energy sector, the National Grid are cooperating and coordinating very well. These entities want to define how electricity, assets and networks will be affected by different risks (Cabinet Office, 2013). A large percentage of the report is very much comprehensive. It mentions many different things that the government is doing in order to control risks and emergencies. However, the report does not make recommendations on what must be done in order to improve risk management in the United Kingdom. The general appearance of the report is good although the few shortcomings such as lack of specification cannot go unmentioned (Cabinet Office 2013). Conclusion In conclusion, this paper has critically analyzed the National Risk Register on Emergencies. A combination of different factors was used to help is the assessment process, risk quantification and qualification. The researchers also used historical analysis, numerical modeling and expert advice in the assessment. The assessment of risks such as terrorist attacks was done using subjectivity because there was need for a balance between different variables. Risks can still occur in the UK and this has been demonstrated in the results. These risks include pandemic influenza severe space weather, terrorist attacks, volcanic eruptions and coastal flooding. The government in collaboration with other institutions has put in place different measures to control the risks discussed in the report. This is a very comprehensive report because it presents the assessment of risk emergencies and the predications about the possibility of these risks occurring. However, there are certain sections of the report where enough assurance of the possibility or no possibility of the occurrence of risk emergencies is lacking. The report fails to mention specific areas where risk emergencies can occur and there is scanty information on what is being done to stop the risks. The UK government is cooperating with other institutions in order to implement measure that can enhance the effectives of the UK is risk handling emergencies. Bibliography Cabinet Office. National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies. Crown Copyright, 2013. Read More