EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS TRAINING IN ENGLAND RUSSELL C. COILE, Ph.D., CEM PACIFIC GROVE FIRE DEPARTMENT 600 Pine Avenue Pacific Grove, California 93950 (831) 648-3110 russell@coile.com ABSTRACT The British Home Office has its Emergency Planning College at Easingwold in North Yorkshire, England. Known as the Civil Defence College for more than 50 years, there was a name change in 1989 when the Home Office decided to increase the emphasis on preparedness for peacetime disasters such as train wrecks, airplane crashes, hazardous chemical plant accidents and other emergencies. The Emergency Planning College presents about 30 seminars and courses each year. Some information about the seminars and courses will be presented, as well as the scheduled dates. I had the opportunity to visit the College and attend a course there in September 1993. The Easingwold course was Seminar for Elected Members. The participants at Easingwold were "elected members" - chairmen of councils, and leaders of principal political parties. The objective of the course was to educate the leaders as to their roles and responsibilities in emergency preparedness and show them how the emergency services should be prepared for various types of disasters. At Easingwold, briefings, group and plenary discussions and a discussion-based exercise were combined to give members an opportunity to discuss the problems which might confront local authorities in a range of emergencies. The seminar ended with case studies of recent emergencies in which local councilors and officers who were involved explained their own roles and the action which was taken by their authorities. INTRODUCTION The Home Office bought "The Hawkhills", a large country house at Easingwold in 1936 for conversion for use as an "anti-gas training school". British preparations for World War II included preparing for the use of poison gas by Germany, since there had been so many chemical warfare casualties in World War I. The house and its 350 acre estate were purchased from Joseph Love, a Durham coal magnate for only £12,500. The first civil defense course at The Hawkhills, Easingwold was in December 1937, so that the College celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1987. The Hawkhills is situated ten miles north of York and about one mile south of the village of Easingwold. The original country house has been added to and modernized so that it now has residential study/bedroom accomodations for about 70 on site and conference facilities for 125 or so. In addition to a gym , weight room, croquet, etc there are two woodland jogging paths marked by red or white arrows. The Hawkhills became the Home Office's only Civil Defence College in 1968 when the two other civil defense schools were closed. In 1989, the Home Secretary reviewed the subject of civil emergencies and decided to rename the College "The Emergency Planning College", and modified its responsibilities to address questions of peacetime disasters as well as wartime emergency civil defence planning. The Emergency Planning College has a Principal, Vice-Principal, College Secretary, three Programme Directors, ten Study Leaders, and a Librarian. The College presents about thirty different residential seminars and courses each year. SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS The seminar at the Emergency Planning College, Easingwold that I attended was for "elected members". Apparently all British elected members are eligible to attend but preference is given to chairmen (convenors) or vice chairmen of councils, leaders or deputy leaders of principal political parties ,and chairmen or vice chairmen of relevant committees. The participants at this seminar included: the Deputy Mayor, Salisbury District Council, Wiltshire; the Vice Chairman, Stroud District Council, Gloucestershire; two members of the Orkney Islands Council; the Deputy Mayor, Coleraine Borough Council, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland; a member of City of Dundee District Council, Tayside, Scotland; etc. SEMINAR OBJECTIVES The Elected Members' Seminar at Easingwold had the following learning objectives: 1. To understand the current rationale for emergency preparedness and the factors which have influenced it; 2. To be aware of the roles and responsibilities of the emergency services, local authority services and other agencies and organizations in their response to peacetime emergencies; 3. To gain a broad understanding of radiation and an understanding of the response to nuclear-related emergencies; 4. To be aware of the responsibilities of elected members concerning emergency preparedness and to be aware of the legislative and financial framework for emergency preparedness and current programmes and initiatives. LEARNING APPROACH At Easingwold, we were divided up into "syndicates" of about eight people with an assigned tutor. The tutor for our syndicate was a Police Superintendent who had been "seconded" to the college for a two year assignment to be a study leader and to give lectures. The briefings, group and plenary discussions and a discussion-based exercise were combined to give members an opportunity to discuss the problems which might confront local authorities in a range of emergencies. Some of the briefings presented to us were: Common Elements of Crises Local Authority's Resources Available in Emergencies Uniformed Services' Resources Available in Emergencies What can we Expect from the News Media Procedures at Major Incidents Principles of Integrated Emergency Management The seminar ended with a case study of a recent emergency - the bombing of the PanAm aircraft at Lockerbie, Scotland. The speaker, a member of the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council, explained his role and the actions taken by his authority. IMPRESSIONS I guess that I was surprized to hear the discussion of so many different kinds of actual disasters in England of one sort or another. I thought that we here in California had more of everything, whether it be earthquakes, tsunamis, wildland fires, drought, and hazardous chemical spills. There will be more than 30 different seminars and courses presented in 1994-1995, with some seminars presented several times. The titles and dates are given in the Appendix. APPENDIX Emergency Planning College Seminars and Courses The Emergency Planning College, Easingwold will offer the following seminars in 1994-95: Aspects of Emergency Planning for National Health Service Management of major emergencies in the NHS context with a participative program of group work and case studies of recent disasters dealing with the roles of the coroner, pathologist, casualty surgeon and voluntary organizations. Care of People in Emergencies Planning for care of victims including welfare, information and counselling when dealing with large numbers of people who need to be evacuated and accommodated. Seminar designed for county social services, local government emergency planners, representatives of emergency services, the National Health Service, and voluntary organizations with responsibilities in aftercare and victim support. Civil Emergencies Adviser Seminars Special event seminars drawing on experience of national and international experts to respond to specific developments or to support the work of the Home Office's Civil Emergencies Adviser. Civil Military Cooperation in Emergencies Multi-disciplinary program for armed forces officers, representatives from central and local government and relevant civilian organizations designed to cover the major areas of possible military aid to the civil community in disasters. Crowd-Related Emergencies Case studies for emergency preparedness for all involved in planning for crowds, including managers of major events, emergency planning officers, emergency services personnel, , and members of voluntary organizations. Counselling and Aftercare Planning for interagency cooperation and understanding for psycho-social support after a disaster for those employed in social service departments, the National Health Service, the voluntary sector, emergency planning units, emergency services and the armed forces. Elected Members Seminar Local authority elected members study the roles and responsibilities of elected members and local authorities in various emergencies. Local councilors who were involved in recent disasters explain their own roles and actions taken by their authority. Emergency Management Senior executives from the public and private sectors consider the common elements of crisis management within the context of their wider corporate roles and compare differences in management culture between the public and private sectors. Emergency Management for Voluntary Organizations Providing an understanding of the integrated approach to emergency management with particular reference to coordination and cooperation and to the volunteers' relationship with the emergency services and the local authorities. Environmental Health Program for environmental health officers and local authority emergency planning officers to improve participants' understanding of emergency preparedness and the contribution to be made by environmental health professionals. Hazardous Materials Specialists cover the major areas concerned with safety of hazardous substances including risks, legal safety requirements, emergency procedures, environmental problems, and the roles and responsibilities of all associated agencies. Inter-Agency Response to Major Disasters Multidisciplinary composition of the seminar enables participants to identify the elements which are common to the successful management of major civil emergencies and thereby understand the importance of liaison and cooperation between all services and agencies involved in the response phase of an emergency. Local Government Senior Management Program to enable local authority chief executives, chief officers and other senior managers to examine the variety of problems likely to face them during and in the aftermath of a major civil emergency, and to discuss current developments in emergency preparedness. Metropolitan Authorities Seminar provides an opportunity for local authority chief executives, elected members and those with responsibilities for emergency response in metropolitan areas to come together with a view to improving preparedness at the local level. Multi-Agency Nuclear Emergency Response Overview of the inter-agency response and demonstration of the concept of integrated emergency management and the need for coordinated action in dealing with the media in a nuclear emergency for those executives with a role to play in the off- site response. National Health Service Seminar Principles of emergency management for relevant executive personnel of the National Health Services. News-Media and Information Establishing effective relationships with the news media and the successful handling of information are acknowledged to be particularly important aspects of emergency management. This seminar brings together emergency services, local government, the utilities, industry, and voluntary organizations who have an information role in emergencies. Operational Risk Assessment Seminar for industrialists, emergency planners and emergency services personnel to cover company management of risk throughout the life of a site, new techniques for major incident risk assessment for on-site and off-site incidents, and applying operational risk assessment in the workplace. Pollution Aspects of Disasters Examination of the problems of land, water and air pollution aspects of disasters for local authority and emergency services personnel. Pop Concerts Guidance Emergency preparedness planning for all involved in planning for pop concerts, including managers, emergency planning officers, emergency services personnel, and members of voluntary organizations. Senior Ambulance Officers' Seminar Principles of integrated emergency management and the roles and responsibilities of senior ambulance officers. Senior Police Officers' Seminar Principles of integrated emergency management and the roles and responsibilities of senior police officers. Specialists Seminar in Emergency Planning This seminar provides an opportunity for experienced emergency planners from central and local government, the emergency services, the utilities and industry as well as representatives from the voluntary organizations to come together to exchange views and to consider current issues in emergency preparedness. Technical Services/National Utilities Program designed to enable managers from the technical services of local authorities and technically-oriented organizations, including the national utilities, to consider the management of a hypothetical major emergency. The following courses will be offered in 1994-95: Communications Course Comprehensive update on communications policy, systems, and equipment for emergency communications planning officers and local authorities. Introduction to Emergency Planning Overview of emergency planning in the United Kingdom for newly appointed emergency planners, representatives of voluntary organizations, the armed forces, emergency services, and elected members. Management of Training and Exercise Design Organization, management and evaluation of various emergency preparedness exercises. Understanding Radiation Specialists in the field provide a basic understanding of radiation for national security and nuclear incident emergency preparedness planners. Water Course Planning for national security and civil emergencies for water company, National Rivers Authority staff and local authority officers. Women's Royal Voluntary Service Emergency planning course for members of the Women's Royal Voluntary Service. SCHEDULE OF SEMINARS AND COURSES Dates Event 1994 27 Sep-28 Sep Women's Royal Voluntary Service Seminar 28 Sep-30 Sep Counselling and Aftercare Seminar 03 Oct-05 Oct Hazardous Materials Seminar 06 Oct-07 Oct Multi-Agency Nuclear Emergency Response Course 10 Oct-12 Oct Metropolitan Authorities Seminar 12 Oct-14 Oct Emergency Management Seminar 17 Oct-21 Oct Communications Course 24 Oct-26 Oct Elected Members Seminar 26 Oct-28 Oct Emergency Planning for the National Health Service 31 Oct-04 Nov Women's Royal Voluntary Service Seminar 14 Nov-16 Nov Civil Emergencies Advisor's Conference 16 Nov-18 Nov Health, Safety, and Welfare at Pop Concerts Seminar 21 Nov-23 Nov Emergency Services Seminar- The Inter Agency Response to Disaster 23 Nov-25 Nov News Media and Information Seminar 28 Nov-30 Nov Pollution Aspects of Disasters Seminar 30 Nov-02 Dec Crowd Related Emergencies Seminar 05 Dec-07 Dec Emergency Management Seminar 07 Dec-09 Dec Health, Safety, and Welfare at Pop Concerts Seminar 12 Dec-16 Dec Introduction to Emergency Planning 1995 03 Jan-05 Jan Emergency Management Seminar for Voluntary Organizations 05 Jan-06 Jan Multi-Agency Nuclear Emergency Response Course 09 Jam-11 Jan Civil Emergencies Advisor's Conference 16 Jan-18 Jan Rabies Seminar 23 Jan-25 Jan Crowd Related Emergencies Seminar 25 Jan-27 Jan National Health Service Seminar 30 Jan-01 Feb News Media and Information Seminar 06 Feb-08 Feb Metropolitan Authorities Seminar 08 Feb-10 Feb Pollution Aspects of Disaster Seminar 13 Feb-15 Feb Introduction to Risk Assessment 20 Feb-22 Feb Elected Members Seminar 22 Feb-24 Feb Emergency Planning for the National Health Service 27 Feb-01 Mar Health, Safety, and Welfare at Pop Concerts Seminar 06 Mar-08 Mar Counselling and Aftercare Seminar 08 Mar-10 Mar Rest Centre Management Seminar 15 Mar-17 Mar Hazardous Materials Seminar 20 Mar-22 Mar Rabies Seminar 22 Mar-24 Mar Health, Safety, and Welfare at Pop Concerts Seminar 27 Mar-29 Mar Emergency Management Seminar 29 Mar-31 Mar Crowd Related Emergencies Seminar 03 Apr-05 Apr Care of People in Emergencies Seminar 10 Apr-13 Apr Understanding Radiation Course 19 Apr-21 Apr Water Course 24 Apr-25 Apr Emergency Management Seminar for Voluntary Organizations 26 Apr-28 Apr Technical Services/National Utilities Seminar 01 May-03 May News Media and Information Seminar 03 May-05 May Health Service Emergency Planning Conference 10 May-12 May Rest Centre Management Seminar 15 May-19 May Women's Royal Voluntary Service Seminar 22 May-24 May Emergency Management Seminar 05 Jun-07 Jun Counseling and Aftercare Seminar 07 Jun-09 Jun Crowd Related Emergencies Seminar 12 Jun-14 Jun Emergencies Services-Inter Agency Response to Disasters 14 Jun-16 Jun Hazardous Materials Seminar 16 Jun-18 Jun Institute of Civil Defense & Disaster Studies Conference 19 Jun-21 Jun Environmental Health Seminar 21 Jun-23 Jun Metropolitan Authorities Seminar 28 Jun-30 Jun Management of Training and Exercise Design 05 Jul-07 Jul Emergency Planning for the National Health Service 10 Jul-14 Jul Introduction to Emergency Planning 17 Jul-19 Jul Civil Emergencies Adviser's Conference 19 Jul-21 Jul Civil Emergencies Adviser's Conference 24 Jul-26 Jul Elected Members Seminar 26 Jul-28 Jul Local Government Senior Management Seminar For details of seminars or courses contact the Course Services Officer at the college (Telephone 001-44-347-821406 or Fax 001-44-347-8225750) and talk to Anne Houghton, Margaret Bird or Tina Fairbairn. The address is Home Office Emergency Planning College The Hawkhills Easingwold York YO6 3EG England.