Last week we had the pleasure of working with a Local Authority Crisis Management Team (CMT) on their role under the Framework for Major Emergency Management.
In the event of a major emergency being declared there will be three or possibly four distinct response groups. The incident scene will have a coordinated response under the provisions of the Onsite Coordination Group (OCG). That group will be supported by the strategic response from the Local Coordination Group (LCG). The Government Task Force (GTF) will most likely be activated in the National Emergency Coordination Centre (NECC). There is also the possibility of the incident requiring a regional response under the control of the Regional Coordination Group (RCG).
Central to all the above response groups is the CMT. The CMT will manage, control, and coordinate the local authority’s overall response to the emergency. They will provide support to the local authority’s controller of operations on site and to the LCG. A critical aspect of the CMT is communication, with the OCG, LCG, Interagency, Government Departments, the public and the media. This must all be done while still juggling the day to day requirements of a busy county. That is where their business continuity plan comes in.
Covid-19 stalled the preparedness of most local authorities on how to respond to a major emergency. It is great to see that MEM training, briefings and exercises are back in operation. No agency can expect their teams to comprehensively respond to a critical incident or major emergency without training and practice.
Cuttle Consulting are available to discuss emergency preparedness, plan reviews and updates, staff training, exercise design, delivery, and evaluation. Contact Paul at paul@cuttleconsulting.ie.