Emergency Management Risks in MEM Region South–An Operational Perspective

Abstract

Introduction:

Distilling from the National Risk Assessment for Ireland, the Regional Working Group for Major Emergency Management Region South (Cork and Kerry) assessed threats in the region and 22 hazards were identified which were distributed over the natural, transportation, technological and civil categories. The hazards were plotted on an Interagency (Health, Police and Local Authority) Emergency Management Risk Matrix

Method:

A three-hour ‘Introduction to Emergency Management’ educational program was developed in May 2022 with the aim of introducing frontline members of the Principal Response Agencies (Health, Police and Local Authority) across the Cork and Kerry region to the concept of emergency management. As part of this educational session, participants (N = 55) were given an overview of the regional risks as identified through the risk assessment process by the Regional Working Group for Major Emergency Management. As part of a breakout session, course participants were asked to identify their perspective on ‘worst case scenario’ risks.

Results:

An analysis of the operational risks identified by members of the Principal Response Agencies (Police, Health and Local Authority) were categorized into the four risk sub-headings: natural, civil, technical and transport and compared with the strategic regional risk assessment. The differences identified based on the comparative analysis, detailed that those holding operational portfolios identified that concurrent risks, as evidenced during the Cyberattack on the Health Service Executive in May 2021 during a wave of the global pandemic in Ireland were a perceived 'greater' risk that those traditional risks identified in the regional risk assessment.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the importance of engaging operational staff when developing regional emergency management risk assessments. The requirement to consider and incorporate concurrent emergency management risks is vital to ensure that the Cork and Kerry regions are prepared for future events.