Emergency Responce Team

Here is a good planning for Emergency Response Team Planning.

HIC SUMATRA - EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN (DRAFT)
(27 July 2005)

1. OVERVIEW/BACKGROUND
Recent research findings by the University of Ulster concluded that stress changes in the aftermath of the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 26 December 2004 and the Simeule-Nias event of 28 March 2005 have significantly increased the risk of further large earthquakes to the south along the Sunda Trench and on the island of Sumatra.

The illustration above by the University of Ulster shows the rupture plane of the December and March earthquakes as well as the stress changes due to both events. There are areas of stress increase on the Sunda Trench (locally up to 8 bars) as well as high stress along the Sumatra fault (with stresses of up to 8 bars near Banda Aceh).

Although an estimation of timing as a result of these stress studies is beyond the reach of earthquake scientists, they identified significant risks for two possible scenarios:

a) Earthquake and potential Tsunami along the southern Sunda Trench
b) Earthquake along the Sumatra Fault, near Banda Aceh

In view of these findings, the HIC Emergency Response Plan includes both preparation for and a response to each of these two scenarios.


2. PREPARATION
Awareness of Response Plans
All staff should be familiar with the response plan and with the steps to be followed in case of an emergency.

Rapid Assessment Tools
A rapid assessment of the situation should be undertaken as soon as possible following a natural disaster. The following tools should be created and kept accessible in both electronic and paper format:

- a rapid assessment form
- an assessment database / table

GIS Database for Sumatra
In view of the possibility of further incidents along the southern Sunda Trench, the HIC should extend its database of basemap data to all of Sumatra.

HIC Mobile Response Unit
In view of the possible deployment of an emergency HIC field office, the following equipment should be kept available at a secure location at all times:

- a laptop preloaded with standard office software, GIS programmes and up-to-date HIC data;
- a portable A4 inkjet printer with 5 sets of spare cartridges;
- 5 reams x 500 sheets of A4 paper
- GPS Units ?

Communication
If the mobile phone network is still operational after an incident, we will be using a telephone communication chain (voice or SMS) to get information about the emergency out and information about the status of all team members to the officer-in-charge.

The contact and report order of the chain is listed below. Rodd (1) contacts Annette (2) and Laura (3). Annette then proceeds to contact Laurent (4) and Rina (7). Laurent and Rina contact the people on their respective lists and report back to Annette, who reports back to Rodd. The same happens for Laura. If, and only if, there is a missing link in the chain (i.e. there is no response for one person), you proceed with the next person on your list (in italics).

No	Name	Tel	Call Sign	Contact	Report
1	Rodd McGibbon	0811 840758	BO 3.1	2 (4,5,6,7,8-9-10) 3 (11,12-13-14)
2	Annette Rolfe	0811 987614	BO 3.8	4 (5-6) 7 (8-9-10) 1 (3,11,12-13-14)	1
3	Laura Hutchings	0812 1071240	BO 3.2	11 (12-13-14) 1 (2 [4,5-6/7,8-9-10])	1(2)
4	Laurent Frideres	0811 825213	BO 3.1.2	5, 6 2 (3,1,7-11)	2 (3,1)
5	Alois Ndambuki	0812 1046876	BO 3.4	(6)	(2,3,1)
6	Frederic Pouget	0812 924542	BO 3.1.1		(2,3,1)
7	Rina Meutia	0812 6988114	BO 3.6	8,9,10	2 (3,1)
8	Nuzulul Isna	0812 6988115	BO 1.6	(9,10)	(2,3,1)
9	Cut Agusta Mindry	0812 6988112	BO 3.7	(10)	(2,3,1)
10	Syahmin Sukhairi	0812 6929029	BO 2.6		(2,3,1)
11	Firdaus Maulana	0811 681259	BO 3.5	12,13,14	2
12	Muhammad Saleh	0815 33155450	GO 5	(13,14)	(3,2,1)
13	Akhyar	0812 6988110	BO 3.9	(14)	(3,2,1)
14	Yoma Suzu Zerry	0856 6005878			(3,2,1)

If the mobile phone network is down, communication will only be possible by VHF radio. Bravo Foxtrott Base will be conducting a radio check in case of an emergency in Banda Aceh and every team member should report back to base.

Possibility for parallel radio check and communication for HIC team members on a designated channel at specific times (e.g. channel 5 at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour).


3. RESPONSE TO SCENARIO A
Earthquake and potential Tsunami along the Sunda Trench
There is currently a high risk of a 8 to 8.5 magnitude earthquake on the Sunda Trench that could potentially be tsunamigenic.

An event along the southern Sunda Trench is not likely to affect the operational capabilities of the HIC office in Banda Aceh. A deployment of an HIC field office to southern Sumatra may need to be considered.

Communication
A rapid response in the event of a strong earthquake and a potential tsunami along the Sunda Trench is essential. The HIC should be called into action as soon as possible. It is therefore important to:

(a) get information about the nature of the emergency and the required response from HIC to all team members; and
(b) request team members to return to the office as soon as possible if the emergency occurs outside office hours.

If the mobile phone network is still operational, we will be using a telephone communication chain, otherwise communication will be by VHF radio.

Division of Responsibilities

HIC Manager
Data Coordinator	Rapid assessment database
Liaison Officers
GIS Officer 1	Basemaps for affected area
GIS Officer 2	Mapping of impact assessment for affected area

Timeline

When	What	Who
0-1 Hrs	HIC Communication Chain activated	HIC Team
1-3 Hrs	Assembly at HIC Office for all available team members HIC Emergency Meeting 1. Assessment of Situation 2. Consideration of deployment of Mobile Response Unit	HIC Team
4-6 Hrs
6-12 Hrs
12-24 Hrs

4. RESPONSE TO SCENARIO B

Earthquake along the Sumatra Fault, near Banda Aceh
The December and March earthquakes have resulted in stress increases along the Sumatra fault over a total distance of about 900km.
This fault is known to have produced earthquakes of magnitude 7 or 7.5 in the past. While these events would not create a tsunami since the fault runs on land, they could be devastating if they occurred near centres of population. Unfortunately, the city of Banda Aceh lies on one particularly strongly stressed part of this fault.

An magnitude 7+ earthquake near Banda Aceh is likely to disrupt the capabilities of the HIC office in Banda Aceh and contingency measures may be necessary to resume basic operations.

Communication
Communication in the aftermath of an event affecting Banda Aceh is critical. It is important to:

(a) know if all members of the team are safe;
(b) get information about the nature of the emergency and the required response from HIC to all team members; and,
(c) find out if and when team members can return to the office if the emergency occurs outside office hours.

If the mobile phone network is still operational, we will be using a telephone communication chain, else, communication will be by VHF radio.

12.06.2008. 14:59

This article hasn't been commented yet.