Emergency Response:

The EHO as an Operational Responder in Civil Emergencies

Introduction: EPU

Who we are… Debbie Spargo Dominic Mellon John Howcroft

What we do… Planning Preparation Response Recovery

How to contact us… 02920 59 66 11 01443 232 270 -

ask to page Vale Duty Emergency Planning Officer

Civil Contingencies Act 2004

Why is the Act required? Outdated legislation:

• 11 Acts repealed

• 25 amendments Events:

• FMD

• Fuel Crisis

• Fire Strike

• Flooding

• 9/11

What does the act do? Establishes resilience

framework for UK Statutory

Responsibilities on Responders

Defines ‘Emergency’ Enables regulations Empowers central

Government to pass legislation under ‘Emergency Powers’

UK Resilience: http://www.ukresilience.info/ccact/index.shtm

Statutory Duties

Council is ‘Category One’ Responder Required to take up duties:

Cooperation Information Sharing Risk Assessment Emergency Planning Business Continuity Management (BCM) Communicating with the Public BCM Promotion to Businesses & Voluntary

Organisations

Risk Assessment

Provide planning assumptions

Help prioritise… Risk reduction

projects Emergency planning

processes Response activities Resilience spending

High Priority: Pandemic Influenza Major Pollution of

Land/Sea/Air Major Localised

Fluvial/Pluvial/Coastal Flooding

Low Priority: SARS WNV Legionella/Meningitis Animal Diseases

Large scale food poisoning is not currently listed in the SW CRR

Pandemic Influenza 1

High Likelihood: Overdue for

pandemic High Impact:

Morbidity: 25% Mortality: 0.37%

Planning Leads: LHB/NHS Trust NPHS

Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D.C., Image NCP 1603

Morbidity: 50% Mortality: 0.25%

Pandemic Influenza 2

Multi-agency response Outbreak Control Teams (OCT) to assist with

contact tracing Legal advice Provision of premises and facilities Provision of social services support Assist with public information/advice Establish body holding facilities Address issues relating to increased pressure on

registration/ burial/cremation services Provide environmental health services Have good BCM in place

Local Authority Roles & Responsibilities:

Major Pollution 1

Barry Chemical Complex Domino COMAH Site 4 ‘top-tier’ sites 6 ‘lower-tier’ sites

Hazardous Chemicals: Formaldehyde Phenol Methanol Chlorosilanes Methyl Chloride Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) Acrylonitrile Tert-dodecyl Mercaptan

Image source: http://www.buncefieldinvestigation.gov.uk/images/gallery/casu02big.jpg

Major Pollution 2

Liaise with responders Advice on…

Scale and nature of risk Possible health effects Health & Safety Hygiene arrangements at Rest Centres Residents safely returning to their houses

Environmental monitoring Assistance with handling the media

Env Health Roles & Responsibilities:

COMAH Off-Site Plan is currently being revised by EPU

Major Flooding 1

High Likelihood: Previous history of flooding Flood risk areas plotted by

EA Climate change

High Impact: Damage to property Relocation of residents Psychosocial impacts Public health impacts Economic losses Damage to infrastructure Environmental impacts

Major Flooding 2

(Predominantly recovery phase)

Decontamination of property

Advice on contaminants Water quality

sampling/monitoring Hygiene/welfare advice

at rest centres

Env Health Roles & Responsibilities:

What not to do…

Summary

Council has must discharge statutory duties under the CCA

Environmental Health is an integral part of the corporate emergency response

Identified risks require specific actions to be taken by EHOs

Remember CRITICAL

Thank you!

Any questions?