Emergency Planning and Individual Responsibilities - Essay Example

EMERGENCY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT Analysis and Evaluation of the Blackpool Incident 1. Incident Scenario During the raid in a suspected house in the Birch Green area, members of the gang were all present along with computers being used to access internet bank accounts and a number of stolen credit cards, chequebooks, and money orders. However, aside from these evidences that could link the gang to fraud and other crimes, the raiding team found what seems to be critical evidence that could potentially lead to Chemical or Biological attack. These evidences include locations of hand gliding and light aircraft clubs, contact details of various companies manufacturing or selling hand-gliders, and some photographs of hand-gliders and light aircrafts typically use to spray chemicals on crops. Along with a list of chemical compounds and formula that were recovered, the bathroom appears to have been used to produce some type of substance. Investigators from the police and the fire and rescue service found traces of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen particularly in cupboards and other isolated areas of the house. Moreover, a significant number of empty plastic containers that had held Sodium Chloride were also found. Experts from Porton Down say that the process could produce chlorine, hydrogen gas, and sodium chloride by electrolysis. The chemical equation for the process appears of those used for manufacturing Chlorine and this hypothesis was confirmed by a number of documents for Chlorine manufacturing found in one the computers in Skelmersdale. The investigators theory was further supported by an overwhelming volume of calls to 999 reporting small aircraft spraying chemicals along the Promenade at Blackpool and significant number of people lying on the road, vehicle collisions, and explosion and fire at the base of the Blackpool tower. Several reports suggest that aerial chemical sprays from a light aircraft that had crushed afterwards into the base of the Blackpool tower had overcome these people. Consequently, responders went their way and established a meeting point 400 meters of the affected area. 2. Command Structure The recommended command structure for this type of incident is a multiagency command structure since the magnitude and severity requires a considerable number of responders such as the police, fire and rescue service, public health and medical agencies, local emergency management unit, maritime and coastguard, environmental agencies, and other personnel responsible for regional and national incident management. According to the Emergency Response and Recovery guidelines of the HM Government that is designed to compliment Emergency Preparedness under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, an emergency response and recovery should be flexible and customised to reflect the situation but should be done in relation to the common set of underpinning principles. Similarly, although the extent or level of involvement, role, and prominence may vary during the phases of the emergency, responding and recovering from an emergency is a ‘multi-agency’ activity that commonly involves various relevant organisations (HM Government 2005a, p.27). However, difficulties that may arise from multiagency response such as integration of the contributions of each organisation particularly those coming from the regional or national level should be taken into account. It is therefore necessary to place a clearly defined structure can help ensure that the main agencies can integrate and respond as an effective multi-agency group. Moreover, a clearly defined structure can help all agencies in deciding and agreeing with key issues, policies, and guidance to which all responders must conform (HM Government 2005a, p.27). 3. Individual Responsibilities of Category 1 Responders Since emergency response and recovery is a multi-agency effort, it may bring forth a number of organisations that are not meant for hierarchical settings. Thus, “mutual trust and understanding” (HM Government 2005a, p.28), must prevail to ensure a multi-agency operation. The various responsibilities of the Category 1 members in this type of command structure would be: 3.1 General Responsibilities Understanding and respecting each other’s functions, ways of dealing with their work, and each other’s priorities and limitations. Sincerity to each other and individual commitment to the secrecy of shared information when dealing with the public and the press in particular. All responders must be responsible to information they have thus unauthorised disclosure of critical information should be avoided since it can undermine the operational efficiency of the command structure as a whole. All agencies must be responsible for the health and safety of their staff working inside the cordoned area. They must ensure that all personnel working in the area are highly trained, knowledgeable, and using suitable protective equipment or devices. 3.2 Police Responsibilities The responsibility of the police in the multi-agency command structure is coordinating the activities of the responders around the incident area except for major fires which the Fire and Rescue Service is responsible for coordination. The police, along with other responders must ensure that their priority is saving and protecting lives. They must keep the scene well guarded to safeguard the evidence that can be use for criminal proceedings and further investigation. If the incident is concerning a criminal act similar to the scenario, the police must undertake collection of evidence with appropriate labelling, sealing, storage, and recording. However, it the incident is an act of terrorism, it must be taken as an assumption and not to be considered true unless confirmed. Securing the area is one of the primary responsibilities of the police working in a multi-agency command structure. In coordination with other emergency services, the police must cordon the area to facilitate the work of other services particularly those that are responsible for saving lives, property, and rehabilitation of survivors. In addition, they must take extra caution when the incident was caused by act of terrorism since it is considered a crime scene where unauthorised access can damage precious criminal evidence. The police have the responsibility to act on behalf of the HM Coroner in processing casualty information and removal of fatalities from the scene. The police must coordinate search activities particularly when survivors or casualties are not available on the scene of the incident. They must cover the surrounding area and if there is a need for assistance, the police can seek the help of the Armed Forces or volunteers. 3.3 Fire and Rescue Service Responsibilities The primary responsibility of the Fire and Rescue services is to rescue people trapped in a fire, wreckage or debris. Extinguish and prevent the further spread of fire Deal with released chemicals and other harmful contaminants to ensure safety in the incident zones. Assist the health and medical agencies in casualty handling and transport. Assist the police in recovering victims’ bodies. Although decontamination of casualties and other health related works are the responsibilities of the NHS, the fire and rescue whenever required should undertake the same work and do some decontamination activities particularly when a significant number of populations is affected or exposed to chemical or other harmful substances. 3.4 Ambulance Services and other Health Agencies The ambulance services are generally responsible for coordination and action concerning on-site NHS response. Ensure prioritisation of emergency treatment at the scene including transport prioritisation of patients required to be taken to a hospital. Hospitals that are under the Acute Trusts and Foundation Trusts in England are hospitals with responsibilities to accept casualties that may be assigned to them by the ambulance service. Primary and Community Care services such as various health professionals and practitioners, community nurses, and so forth may be involve and have the responsibility to assist during the recovery phase or when required during the emergency. Primary Care Trust and the Health Protection Agency are also responsible to ensure local health response to public health emergency and give government health advice respectively. The HPA is responsible in identification and response to health hazards coming from infections disease, harmful or poisonous chemicals, and other radioactive materials. 4. Issues on Treatment and Identification of Casualties According to the HM Government (2005a, p.160) guidelines, care and treatment of the injured is primary aim and requires high priority response. Survivors with no considerable physical injuries but shocked or traumatised by the incident should be treated with care and look after their psychological needs. Moreover, such horrible incident is often accompanied by loss of love ones, properties, and vital needs (Myers 1999, p.18), thus utmost care should be taken. For this reason, although survivors may often be able to provide vital information regarding the incident, responders particularly the police should consider the balance between the importance of gathering evidence and reluctance of some who are still distress. During the emergency, arrangements should be made to receive and treat casualties with appropriate priority. According to the HM Government (2005a, p.160), guidelines, medical or health responders should carry out triage or any suitable measures to prioritise patients based on the severity of their conditions. Injured and other casualties should be documented and directed to appropriate treatment facility. Experienced doctors and nurses should carry out triage where each patient will be assigned a category and unique identification number. 5. Critical Evaluation of Issues Regarding Warning and Informing the Public Similar to information that must be given to the media, it is also essential that the public receives the necessary advice, warnings, and information to keep them reassured and well informed on the actions that they should take (HM Government 2005a, p.26). Responders belonging to Category 1 (the main responders such as the emergency services) under the CCA regime have the duty to let the public know issues regarding civil protection so they be able to prepare and deal with emergencies if they occur. Moreover, it is also their duty to maintain arrangements that would ensure continues flow of warning messages and advices during an emergency (HM Government 2005a, p.185). Informing the public is important thus there are a number of legislations that requires key agencies to provide the public with critical information. For instance, The COMAH and REPPIR or the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 requires operators to inform the public that could be affected by a major accident at the operator’s establishment. It is therefore important that warning and information strategies be in place during an emergency response. However, not all message or information can be delivered directly to the public as in most cases it is more appropriate to select a public figure such as council leader or local chief executive to deliver them. One of the key issues involving dissemination of information during an emergency is the consistency of information that they will provide the public (HM Government 2005a, p.186). This is because any misleading information can create confusion and can be harmful to public. It is therefore necessary to be precise and wait for the proper time until details of the incident are clear where facts and figures are already verified correct. One strategy according to the HM Government (2005a, p.187) guidelines is to establish a cross agency coordination of information during the initial phase of the incident response. Production and distribution of a core media brief to key stakeholders can help avoid needless misunderstandings and inconsistency. 6. Critical Evaluation of Issues Surrounding Incident Communications Communication is commonly viewed as transmitting and receiving of different types information whether by verbal, written, image, signs, etc (Moore & Lakha 2006, p.126). An incident communication centre must be established along with development of reliable internal and external communication system (HM Government 2005b, p.50) and use of direct communication channels is preferable since it can increase dialogue and feedback on immediate concerns. Another is speaking technical information in a form that everybody can understand to enhance two-way communication (Kaplan 1996, p.62). Some of the issues in disseminating information during an incident include variations of communications procedures between agencies in a multi-agency command structure. The views and assessment of the incident may be different for agency to agency and since everybody is under pressure during an emergency, errors and confusion may occur and communications can become overloaded. Another challenge is the integration of voluntary and private sector organisations in the information management structure of a multi-agency response since they may need to adapt to established procedures (HM Government 2005a, p.25). Another issue is the use of terms and definitions, concepts of operation, doctrine, and structures. Local terms and parochial usage of terms and definitions may affect the cooperation and interoperability with outside or regional and national responders. It is therefore preferable to use national standards and publications to ensure the smooth flow of information. Another is consistency of information that would be release to various stakeholders and the media. Centralisation of incident communication can greatly help reduce errors, mistakes, and inconsistencies of information that may affect the outcome of the response negatively (HM Government 2005a, p.26). Emergencies typically creates severe disruptions to affected population thus there is an increase reliance in public support agencies. For this reason, informing people of things they can and cannot get from main responders can greatly help reduce the disruption (HM Government 2005b, p.79). 7. Strategy in Dealing with Attending Media Representatives An emergency typically attract the attention of the media since it is a public concern thus an incident command structure must have appropriate strategy to manage the demands of the media and ensure the consistencies of the messages that are given to them. Moreover, a good public communication can help emergency management in delivering accurate, clear, and timely information, advice, and warnings to the public. The media, who will no doubt have gathered at the scene or in the hospital, should be provided with regular and accurate press releases. The media are presumably under pressure during a major incident to meet deadlines and if they do not receive adequate and appropriate information, they may set about seeking it out for themselves. The needs of the media should address in ways, which will not compromise the emergency response of the hospitals and its staff or the confidentiality of casualties and relatives. The most appropriate way to deal with media representatives during an emergency is to create a comprehensive media response structure that would be headed by an experience media communication specialist. The appointed media specialist should have the experience and personal capability to handle and take decisions regarding public and media communications. From then on, arrangements can be made for the media to receive regular briefings and provide them with the latest information available. However, some information may be limited and should be explained to the media particularly when information can jeopardise a possible criminal prosecution. 8. Press Statement for the Attending Media Press Statement for Blackpool Incident Source: Blackpool Incident Command Communication Centre Date: 25 Nov 2009 Sometime this month a group of investigators found some chemical compounds and formula that can be use to manufacture Chlorine in Birch Green area of Skelmersdale. The suspected terrorism plot to launch a biological attack was later confirmed by the overwhelming reports through the 999 system of light aircraft spraying chemicals in the Blackpool area and the large number of unconscious people lying in the road. Our first responders did found several hundred of people affected by chemical sprayed from the light aircraft that deliberately crashed itself to the Blackpool Tower causing an explosion and subsequent fire. Based on available evidence found on earlier raids and on site, the newly formed Incident Command Centre for Blackpool links this incident to terrorism and therefore requires your maximum cooperation. The command centre is talking the necessary measures to treat and recover casualties in the best possible way we can. We advice everyone to stay at the designated safe zones to avoid further casualties and give our responders more space to do their work. The command centre wishes to ask our friends in the media to warn and inform the public to stay indoors to avoid further contamination. We also want to advice the public to stay calm and wait for further announcement from the incident command centre. We will release some more information about the incident in a later time when all details are confirmed. 9. Bibliography HM Government, 2005a, Emergency Response and Recovery: None Statutory Guidance Accompanying the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, Library and Information Centre, United Kingdom HM Government, 2005b, Emergency Preparedness, Guidance on Part 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, its associated Regulations and Non-Statutory arrangements, Library and Information Centre, United Kingdom Kaplan L. 1996. Emergency and Disaster Planning Manual. McGraw-Hill Professional, United States of America Moore T. & Lakha R. 2006. Tolley's Handbook of Disaster and Emergency, Management, Butterworth-Heinemann, United Kingdom Myers K. 1999, Manager’s Guide to Contingency Planning: Protecting Vital Facilities and Critical Operations, 2nd Edition, United States of America Read More