Rosemary Hegner A/Director NSW Health Emergency Management Unit Office of the State HSFAC September 2011

1. Covering the Bases for Emergency Management Rosemary Hegner A/Director NSW Health Emergency Management Unit Office of the State HSFAC September 2011

2. Concepts of Emergency Management • Prevention/Mitigation – to eliminate or reduce the level of risk or severity of emergencies • Preparation – to enhance the capacity of the agency to cope with the consequences of a major emergency • Response – to ensure the immediate consequences of an emergency can be managed • Recovery – resilience of the agency to reconstruct the physical infrastructure, and restoration of the physical, emotional & economic well being

3. Health Emergency Management Unit • The office of the State Health Services Functional Area Coordinator (representative to the State Emergency Management Committee) • Was established to ensure that the NSW Health System is prepared and ready to respond to major emergencies.

4. NSW Health data of Incidents by type Oct 2009-2010

5. Prevention activities • You need to manage the risks to your business by identifying and analysing the things that may have an adverse effect on your business and choosing the best method of dealing with each of these identified risks. • The questions to ask yourself are: • What could cause an impact or disruption? • How serious would that impact or disruption be? • What is the likelihood of this occurring? • Can it be reduced or eliminated?

6. Preparedness activities • Emergency Plans • Roles & Responsibilities • Your facility • Contact Details • Insurance • Staff Training • Emergency Supplies • Communication

7. Responding to an emergency • SAFETY • Take command of the situation • Control the situation • Communicate • Activate the plan

8. The “E” word - evacuation • Deciding to evacuate • Evacuation on or off site • Timing – Immediate or later • Transportation • Families • Impact on evacuees • Equipment – what do you need • Return

9. Recovery from an emergency • Recovery does not commence when the emergency is over, but when it commences. • Recovery is the return to your pre-emergency condition. Performing your critical activities as soon as possible after an impact should be your primary focus. • All recovery plans should assume loss of infrastructure with details of replacement/repair strategies to expedite a return to full pre-incident activities.

10. Rehearse, Maintain & Review • Incorporate emergency management strategies into daily business activity. • Practice and test your emergency management plans • When changes occur in the business update your plan immediately • Undertake a review of your plan every 3-5 years to incorporate new practices

11. Websites of value Report on “Aged care provider learnings on responding to the February earthquake in Canterbury” http://www.eldernet.co.nz/IM_Custom/ContentStore/Assets/7/98/b45068e6b3f6d8180db28b092133d87d/2011-07-31%20Cant%20EQ%20Research%20FINAL%20.pdf Ministry for Police and Emergency Services http://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/home.html NSW Health Emergency Page http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/

12. Questions or comments?