Disaster ManagementDutch Experiences
Tom Smit
EFCA Istanbul 24 May 2004
Risk in an Open Society
We are not able to create a no-risk society
Media often suggest the contrary in reaction toincidents
Government and Industry have important Role andTask in anticipation and reaction on man-made andnatural disasters and incidents
Context of Incidents is as important as incident ordisaster itself!
Enschede Fireworks Disaster May 13, 2000 learnedus not to overreact but to emphasize on anticipationand evaluation but also on restoration of trust in andregulation by government in our densely populatedcountry, the Netherlands undoubtedly is!
Enschede May 13, 2000
For the general public and politics a complete surprise!
nWho expected a disaster like this, causing 22 dead,950 wounded, the complete destruction of twohundred houses, 300 houses damaged, 50 officebuildings destroyed?
nNobody really was aware of the fact we still hadactive fireworks factories in Dutch cities.
nRules were there but not strictly monitored becauselocal officials supposed fireworks to be ratherharmless
nProfessionals knew that here a potential dangerexisted. In 1991 there was already a smaller incidentin the town of Culemborg causing 2 dead.
Disaster Management
In anticipating, mitigating, reconstructing, rehabilitating
and evaluating man-made disasters we deal with;
Time
Budget
Quality
Information
Organization
Time
We are always in a crises when dealing withdisasters even anticipating potential incidents; wesimply don’t have enough time….even if and whenthere are contingency plans, etc.
Time management is essential in every stage of adisaster or anticipating that incident….
Disasters are almost by definition unexpected andgovernment is expected to act immediately andeffectively!
Budget
There is never enough money to handle the effects of
man-made disasters so classify risks that are:
1.Avoidable
2.To diminish
3.To be shared with industry
4.To insure (if and when possible…)
and deal with them! Plan, Do, Check, Act!
Quality
Define the options you want to have in dealing with
disasters:
1.Plan the measures you want to take…not everythingdoes have to be full proof!
2.Scenarios can give you insight in the measures youhave to take….and not everything has to be100%...80% will do!
3.Prepare yourself….in this respect Government andIndustry Partnerships often work better thanRegulation alone.
Information
In all stages of disaster management information is
vital.
1.Start with inventory…where are the risks…andcommunicate
2.Analyze the risks, Classify and react by takingdecisions …and communicate
3.Control the effects, evaluate …and communicate
4.Take all necessary measures …and communicate
5.Inform yourself, Be informed …and communicate!
Crisis Management is first and foremost informationmanagement!
Organization
Pro-act; look for the unrealistic possibilities!
Prevent; Which measures are to be taken now?
Prepare; Find the strong and weak spots in yourorganization and try to improve by training andinstruction.
React; Who does what in a crisis? Plan!
Follow-up; Take the responsibility and alwaysevaluate, so lessons can be learned!
Disaster Management
Anticipation
Mitigation
Reconstruction
Rehabilitation
Evaluation
In all 5 fazes the consulting engineer is present. Weare vital because we have the knowledge and theexperience gained out of a lot of crises and incidentse.g. in the NL. We are the consistent factor becauseas consultants we were involved in dealing with allnatural and man-made disasters and developed ourknowledge in all aspects of disaster management.
FIGURE 0-1 PROBLEMS AND CAUSES
Dutch Government
The Government of the NL developed an externalsafety program, as they called it, dealing withChemicals, LNG, LPG, Fireworks, Transport ofDangerous Goods, Floods, Fires and SmallEarthquakes.
This policy has a chance and effects approach. TheGovernment set a risk standard of once in 1 millionyears and has a policy in which they don’t exceptcertain effects anymore (e.g. no nuclear fall out, nomajor firework incidents in cities).
Dutch External Safety Policy
In the NL we have a no effect policy where Chlorine,Ammonia, LPG is concerned and we use aprobability standard of once in 1 million years tobalance the costs and effects of certain industrialactivities in our densely populated country.
So gradually and slowly we move towards a societywhere you don’t find LPG Gas filling stations, andwhere we don’t have chlorine or ammonia transportthrough cities and towns anymore….
ALARA
The As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)Principle is hardly observed in the NL because wedon’t have enough space left for activities withdangerous goods and we need the economicbenefits of those activities….
All local Governments wrestle with theirresponsibilities in this respect and need scientificbased knowledge, they themselves don’t have...
Role of Consulting Engineers
There is hardly any link now between the spatialdevelopment policies of local government and theexternal safety rules and regulations. Standards aredefined and implemented in a less than adequatemanner
So there is a need for scientific based and thoroughbut pragmatic advising. Government needs the knowhow and experiences of consulting engineers inpolicy advise, monitoring whether objectives areachieved and signaling inconsistencies!
ONRI
The Dutch Organization of Consulting Engineers
(ONRI) is taking an active role in developing a more
consistent external safety policy in the NL by creating a
knowledge forum for engineers, giving advice to
Government and evaluating our role in the policy
process. We still have a long way to go but we are on
the move!