CLASP Event 7 th December 2010

Emergency Services - Risk Assessment for Adaptation

Juliet Staples

Project Aims

The research aimed to:

• Explore the prioritisation of future climate change risks for different emergency service providers

• Identify opportunities for improved climate change co-ordination between LCC and Emergency Services

• Learn from best practice elsewhere

Emergency Services and Adaptation Introduction

Project Contributors

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Plus:Merseyside Police LCC Emergency Planning Officers, Highways Drainage Officers,NHS/PCT Climate Change OfficersCoastguard Quantum Consulting

• Logistics

• Legal Advice

• Science Advisory Group for Emergencies

Multi-Agency Emergency Response

COBRLogistics

Legal Advice

Science Advisory Group for Emergencies Regional Resilience Teams

Possibly Regional Co-ordinating Group and/or Regional Civil Contingencies Committee

GOLD Local Strategic Co-ordinating Group Decision makers

SILVER Local Tactical Co-ordinating Group Identification of resources etc

BRONZE Operational Response On the ground action

Science and Technical Advisory Committee

accountability

information flow

The Approach Recording Matrix

.

Very High (score 15-25)

Consider immediate risk action, review regularly and report upwards to senior management

High (score 8-14)

Consider risk action and review regularly

Medium / Tolerable (score 5 – 7)

Consider risk action and review periodically

Low(score <5)

No action required. Review annually to ensure risk level does not change

The Approach Risk Scoring Guide

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Greatest Risks

Attendees: Energy and Environment Manager MRFS; Operational Preparedness, MRFS; Flood Response Group, MRFS; Estates Director, MRFS; Councillor; Climate Change Officer, LCC; Quantum Consultant.

Impact Area Current risk Future risk Impact Likelihood Risk

High winds, storm

L M 2 4 8

Flood L L 3.5 2 7

Hotter, drier summers

L M 2 3 6

Heat wave, drought

L M 2 3 6

L M H Low Medium High

Attendees: Business Continuity Co-ordinator, Police; Energy Manager, Police; Climate Change Officer, LCC; Quantum Consulting.

Merseyside Police Greatest Risks

Impact Area Current risk Future risk Impact Likelihood Risk

Flood L M 3 3 9

High winds, storm

L M 2 3 6

L Low M Medium H High L

Attendees: Senior Officer, MCA; Climate Change Officer, LCC; Quantum Consulting.

Merseyside Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Greatest Risks

Impact Area Current risk Future risk Impact Likelihood Risk

Flood L I 4 4 16High winds, storm

M I 2.5 5 12.5

Heatwave, drought

L I 2 4 8

Hotter, drier summers

L I 2 4 8

More frequent adverse weather

- I 2 4 8

H - Low High VH High No info I IncreasingL

Contacts: Head Contingency Planning, Ambulance NHS Trust; Third Sector and Environmental Sustainability Lead, Stakeholder Engagement Directorate; Head of Estates; Director of Estates; Environment Manager, Liverpool Womens Hospital.

Merseyside NHS/PCT Greatest Risks - tbc

• Initial contact with Head of Contingency Planning

• Deputy nominated due to commitments -unable to engage/get a response

• Personal contacts used to engage with other NHS/PCT staff

• Workshop arranged (03/12/10), information sent out in advance

• Representatives were more estate management focussed

• New nominations for engagement suggested

• Largest organisation, complex and changing, work still ongoing.

• To date : 20+ emails to NHS/PCT contacts, several calls, 1 meeting, 1 workshop.

LCC Emergency Planning

Liverpool Emergency Planning share the Level 3 NI 188 assessment with the City Council.

Staff regularly engage with the Emergency Services through the Local Resilience Forum and practical response exercises.

Annual reviews of multiagency practical responses and documents enable risks to be reassessed and updated as required.

Longer term planning/horizon scanning for pandemic flu, Olympics etc

Production of the ‘Lets Get Ready Liverpool’ booklet

Variable Fire and Rescue

Police Coastguard NHS/PCT

Hotter drier summers

Milder wetter winters

Flood

High winds/storm

Heatwave drought

Ice/snow

Higher frequency adverse weather

Other Food security

Energy security

Risk Ratings – A Comparison between Emergency Services

Medium High V. High No infoLow

Key Summary Points

Emergency Services are well positioned and structured to adapt as required.

Risks are well understood with responses in place (statutory responsibility) but they are not currently labelled as climate change adaptations

Comparison of risk priorities shows both shared and individual Service risks

Emergency Services are at a higher level of adaptation response/preparedness (under NI 188) than they initially rated themselves

Longer term adaptation responses are under consideration

Sharing of best practice is through the Local Resilience Forum and there is good engagement with the Local Authority

There is increasing anecdotal evidence for climate change adaptation

Next Steps

Further engagement with NHS/PCT to complete the assessment

Offer of ongoing support to Emergency Services re future work

Presentation to Local Resilience Forum

Capture learning and outcomes for general dissemination

Further Information

Juliet Staples

Climate Change Manager

Liverpool City Council

0151 233 8673

juliet.staples@liverpool.gov.uk