Draft Model Earthquake Contingency Plan


of 

Trinidad and Tobago

DMECP

Presented by Denise Anderson

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 Outline

About the DMECP!

Mitigation!

Preparedness!

Response!

Recovery!

Tsunami Countermeasures!

The Way Forward!

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 About DMECP
Purpose!
to minimize the loss of life and damage to
property and the environment in Trinidad and
Tobago, by detailing actions to be taken to reduce
vulnerability, to prepare for, respond effectively to
and recover quickly from, the impacts of serious
earthquakes and tsunamis. !

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 About DMECP
Assumptions!

  there is a National Emergency Management Plan

  all stakeholders are both aware and capable of performing their assigned roles

  all Memoranda of Understanding with key stakeholders required for the

execution
of the Plan would have been put in place

  all emergencies occurring within and requiring a multiagency response will be

managed using the Incident Command System (ICS)

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 About DMECP
Assumptions!

  When a serious earthquake occurs the NEOC will be activated as soon as

possible to coordinate the activities of all emergency response agencies.

  There is the suspension of day-to-day functions of state agencies that do not

contribute directly to disaster.

  Non-discrimination, and individual and community responsibility are considered

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 MITIGATION
Activities that prevent and emergency, reduce the chance of an emergency happening, or reduce
the damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies!

Structural!
• establishment of building codes!
• retrofitting of existing buildings!

Non-structural!
• hazard mapping!
• land-use planning!
• zoning of development activities!
• effective early-warning!
• public awareness and education!
• disaster management planning!
• institute tax regimes!
• adequately resource and effectively test/exercise all relevant agencies !

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Mitigation Efforts:

Public Utilities"

 ensure the survivability of essential infrastructure such as filtration plants,

distribution stations, pumping stations, water mains etc
 stockpile materials and equipment to facilitate a speedy restoration of its service
in an emergency.

 take steps to ensure the survivability of essential infra- structure such as power
–generation plants, distribution stations, electrical mains and the like.
 As far as possible, place power supply systems such as electric lines,
transformers, and the like underground to protect them from earthquake damage
and fires.
 promote redundancy by having a plurality of systems to ensure the supply of
power in the event that its primary lines are cut.
 stockpile materials and equipment to facilitate a speedy restoration of its service
in an emergency.

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Mitigation Efforts:

Public Utilities"

 take steps to ensure the survivability of essential infrastructure

 As far as possible, place telephone lines underground to protect them from
earthquake damage and fires

 promote redundancy by having a plurality of systems (wireless radio networks,

satellite phones and the like) to ensure they can provide some means of
communication in the event that their primary land lines are cut

 stockpile materials and equipment to facilitate a speedy restoration of their

services in an emergency

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Mitigation Efforts:

Public Utilities"

 undertake an assessment of the level of earthquake

resistance of such facilities and shall retrofit those found to
be below the accepted standard

 undertake an assessment of the hazards to which these

public facilities are subject and shall take steps to counter
these threats

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Mitigation Efforts:

Public Transport"

 designate some main roads as emergency transportation

routes and indicate their priority with respect to route-
clearing activities

 institute measures to protect main routes from hindrances

such as falling utility poles, sign boards, etc.

 encourage the making of agreements with private

construction companies regarding the provision of personnel
and equipment needed for road-clearing, heavy-lift and
other works following the occurrence of an earthquake

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Mitigation Efforts:

Public Transport"

 pay particular attention to the survivability of airports and

seaports in view of their vital importance to the receipt of
supplies, evacuation, and other emergency support
functions

 identify sites to be used as heliports in emergency

situations and shall collaborate with site-owners to ensure
the availability of these sites in an emergency

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Other Mitigation Efforts"

 examine the safety of facilities that handle petroleum, high-pressure gas

(e.g. LPG) and toxic chemicals

 require that the administrators of such facilities prepare emergency

plans and conduct simulation exercises to ensure a smooth response in
the event of an earthquake

 in collaboration with facility administrators, ensure that a system is in

place to prevent the outbreak of fires and the leakage of toxic or
otherwise hazardous materials

 require of such facilities that they prepare a manual for the handling of
their differing materials in case of an emergency

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Other Mitigation Efforts"

 Ensure that structures on sandy soils, that load-bearing piles should be

driven down to bedrock. Also, to prevent differential settlement the load
of structures should be equalized and substructures should be unified.

 map the location of steep slopes, noting their location, land use, degree
of danger posed, expected level of damage, and the like

 Based on this list, notify the general public of the areas having
dangerous slopes

 shall discourage development in these areas through the use of

regulations, taxation, etc

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 PREPAREDNESS
  Core emergency response systems!
  Mutual aid agreements!
  Information management!
  Communication!
  Public information!
  Protection of data!
  Search and rescue, and emergency medical treatment!
  Community preparedness!

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 Response
This phase commences immediately after the impact of an
earthquake!

  The UWISRC will give the notification of the earthquake

occurrence!

  The first responders agencies will notify the ODPM of

resultant damages!

  The ODPM will determine the level of response required, i.e.

Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3

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 Response
Activation of the National Emergency Contingency Plan (NECP)!

The NECP is activated for a Level 2 or Level 3 event, and the

following systematic stages pursued!
•  Phase 1: Initial Stage!
•  Phase 2: Response Stage!
•  Phase 3: Return to Normalcy Stage

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 Response
Phase 1 – Initial Stage!

establishes an organized response. This phase begins

immediately following the occurrence of the earthquake and
continues until the NEOC is fully activated and is capable of
controlling all emergency response activities.!

  Activation of NEOC

  Activation of the EOCs of response agencies

  Establishment of channels of support through collaboration

with other organizations within and outside of the country

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 Response
Phase 2 – Response Stage!
begins about 24 hours after the event to seven days maximum.

Aim: to save lives and the prevent damage to property and the environment, prompt gathering
and transmission of information on the details of the earthquake, the securing of a reliable
means of communication and the initial assessment of the damage caused.

  Determining the need to declare a State of Emergency or a “Disaster Area”, as appropriate.

  Preventing confusion resulting from rumours or false reports, encouraging appropriate

decision-making and action-taking by transmitting correct information to both victims and the
rest of the population,

  Searching for and rescuing disaster victims and providing prompt medical attention to
casualties,

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 Response
Phase 2 – Response Stage!

  Disaster prevention activities such as fire-fighting and tsunami countermeasures in order to

prevent secondary or chain reaction emergencies

  Guiding victims to safe shelters

  Securing means of emergency transportation by controlling vehicular and pedestrian traffic to

support smooth rescue, medical assistance and fire-fighting activities and to issue
emergency supplies to victims

  Ascertaining the risk of secondary disasters hazards such as flooding, landslides etc., and,
where necessary, evacuating residents and implementing countermeasures against these
potential hazards

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 Response
Phase 3 – Return to Normalcy Stage!
starts approximately 72 hours after the earthquake event and can last
from a few weeks to a few months (depending on the scale of the
earthquake event). Activities in this phase are aimed at stabilizing
peoples’ daily lives and economic activities

  procuring and distributing food, water, medicines and other daily

  supplies necessary for maintaining an acceptable level of comfort for disaster

victims

  establishing law and order through crime prevention and suppression activities, and
implementing measures to ensure the reliability of supply and the stability of
commodity prices

•   
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 Response
Phase 3 – Return to Normalcy Stage!
  restoration of lifelines and utilities

  acceptance of material and monetary donations from abroad

  preventing confusion caused by rumours and false reports

  transmitting correct information to disaster victims and other members of the

public; thereby encouraging appropriate judgment and decision-making based on
accurate information

  assessing the state of health of disaster victims, health and hygiene activities such
as waste disposal, quarantine activities, and the recovery and handling of dead
bodies

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 Response
Phase 3 – Return to Normalcy Stage!

Clearance of debris from roads, airports and ports. These activities should include
debris management considerations.

•  Reopening of roads, ports and airports

•  Temporary repair of damaged buildings

•  Consider possible isolation of some areas, and the resupply options

available to assist them

•  Re-establishment of communications systems

•  Establishment of procedures to deal with media enquires

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 Recovery
Short Term - Rehabilitative!

  The restoration of vital services to the community while

providing for basic needs!

Long Term - Reconstructive!

  The restoration of the affected community to its

previous, or improved, status

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 Recovery
National and local government agencies, and other public
institutions and private sector agencies related to the recovery
effort will need to cooperate to!

  make quick decisions on the general direction of recovery

and the systematic implementation of projects!

  support the rebuilding of individual lives through the provision

of capital aid, housing and employment!

  rapidly restore community lifelines, transportation systems

and other public facilities and infrastructure for stable daily
living conditions!

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 Recovery Plans
The Government shall decide whether to aim for

  a quick restoration of the original condition of the

affected area or

  a systematic recovery that seeks to address some

medium-to-long term issues, such as reducing the
level of vulnerability to hazards, depending on the
extent of the damage, the characteristics of the area,
the wishes of the management of the public facilities,
and the like

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 Recovery Plans

Damage Assessment!
The government is to assess and place a cost on !
  the damage done to infrastructure!
  the damage done to all sectors of the economy!
  all resources expended in the emergency response effort

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 Recovery Plans
Damage Assessment!
Building Inspection!

The government will collect information on the !

  type of damage!
  valuation and method employed!
  insurance cover for all affected areas

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 Recovery Plans
Public Information!

Via mass media, the government will!

  keep the national community informed of all
recovery activities!
  monitor the information carried by the
media!
  take action to correct any inaccurate
reports

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 Recovery:

Support for Economic Activity"

 paying of compensation

 extending of deadlines for the payment of taxes or the deferring

 reducing or exempting of such payments

 loaning of low-interest or no-interest loans

 providing of temporary or permanent housing

 providing of jobs

 applying of various welfare measures

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 Recovery:

Support for Economic Activity"

 offering low interest loans for operating capital and

equipment restoration capital to earthquake-affected
private enterprises

 loaning of low-interest capital to affected agricultural,

forestry or fisheries enterprises for the restoration of
facilities and for business stabilization,

 improving structures for the growth of industries in

keeping with economic trends

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 Recovery:

Support for Transport Systems"

 priority will be placed on the securing of emergency routes.

 mobilize as quickly as possible to assess the extent of damage to airports

 remove obstacles from port areas and navigation channels.

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 Recovery:

Public Utilities"

Priority action should be given as follows:

 water filtering plants, intake weirs or towers, aqueducts

 water distribution facilities, pumps and main supply lines

  water supply branch lines, Standpipes and Water tanks

In the event of damage to branch lines, priority of restoration of supply will be

as follows:
- emergency facilities such as hospitals, fire stations, police
stations, defence force installations, shelters, and the like
- other emergency facilities (State as per country)
- water lines that are causing flooding on roads, etc

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 Recovery:

Public Utilities"

 the priority of action shall be the prevention of secondary hazards (e.g. fires,
electrocutions) followed by the restoration of the electricity supply. Once power is
restored, it is still necessary to maintain a watch for the outbreak of fires

 priority to restoring the communications systems of emergency response

institutions such as the police, fire service, hospitals, and the like

  institute systems that allow them to control the volume of calls made on
communications systems in emergency situations.

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 Tsunami Countermeasures
Tsunamis!
 an ocean wave that is generated by a sudden
disturbance of the ocean floor that displaces a
large amount of water!

 This disturbance may be due to submarine

volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides and
large meteorite impacts

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 Tsunami Countermeasures
Prediction "

knowledge of the hypocenter, epicenter and magnitude of an

earthquake event indicate to a certain degree whether or not a
tsunami will occur!

the moment of the fault indicates whether or not the first wave of a
tsunami comes right away or after subsiding at first!
 if the fault is pushed up, the first wave comes straight way!
 if the fault is pushed down, the wave first subsides before
moving inland!

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 Tsunami Countermeasures
Warning!
 The University of the West Indies Seismic
Research Centre, and other monitoring agencies,
shall!
 issue the tsunami forecast to all relevant
government organiations!

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and

Management shall!
  set up a sea watch!

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 Tsunami Countermeasures

Response!
 Entry to the danger area is not given until the
"ALL CLEAR" is given by the Office of
Disaster Preparedness and Management!

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 Tsunami Countermeasures
Evacuation!
  The decision to recommend that residents
evacuate from an area after an earthquake event
is the responsibility of the ODPM in consultation
with key national and local government agencies!
Inclusive of the UWI SRC!

  The responsibility for implementing evacuation

rests with the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service
(TTFS), supported by the Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service (TTPS) and the local government
authority
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 Tsunami Countermeasures
Evacuation!
 The TTPS will designate evacuation routes
and for securing the evacuated area!

 The local government authority will provide

and supervise transport to and from shelters!

 The Office of Disaster Preparedness and

Management will issue the "ALL CLEAR" for
re-entry to an evacuated area

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 The Way Forward
The plan applies to all government ministries
and agencies, municipal bodies and public
institutions that are tasked with any aspect of
earthquake risk management. !

Therefore, the plan also provides guidance to

non-governmental organizations and private
organizations regarding their contributions to
effective earthquake risk management in (name
of country).!
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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 2 -
TTFS TTDF Response
Phase
TTRCS/St.
Phase 2 -
MOH/ John’s
Response
GMRTT Ambulanc
Phase
e Brigade
Phase 2 -
MFA ODPM Response
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 2 -
MOPSD/
MOLG Response
TTRCS/ ADRA
Phase
Phase 2 -
TTFS TTEMAS Response
Phase
Phase 2 -
TTARS/
TSTT Response
REACT
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 2 -
TTRCS/
MOLG Response
ADRA
Phase
Phase 2 -
TTFS TTEMAS Response
Phase
Phase 2 -
MOWT TTDF Response
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 2 -
MOWT TTDF Response
Phase
Phase 2 -
MOWT TTDF Response
Phase

Phase 2 -
TTDF/
MOWT Response
TTEMAS
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 2 -
OPM ODPM Response
Phase
Phase 2 -
MPU TTDF Response
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 2 -
TTFS/
EMA Response
TTEMAS
Phase
Phase 2 -
TTPS TTDF Response
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 3 -
Return to
MOH/RHA TTDF
Normalcy
Phase
Phase 3 -
Return to
ODPM MFA
Normalcy
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 3 -
Return to
TTDF MOLG
Normalcy
Phase
Phase 3 -
Return to
MOLG MPA
Normalcy
Phase

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Responsibility Matrix

Emergency Response"

Phase 3 -
Return to
TTFS TTDF
Normalcy
Phase
Phase 3 -
MOH/ Return to
MOT
MOPSD Normalcy
Phase

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 Thank You!

Any Comments/Questions?

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