First world floodfighters conference
For some time the UK’s CFOA and the Fire and Rescue Services have been working with fire and emergency management professionals from Charlotte and North Carolina and the US to develop flood response and major incident management principles. Many of the emerging principles were developed in the 2006 UK’s Chief Fire Officers Association’s report “Management of Major Flood Emergencies” and put into practice to save many lives during the UK’s devastating summer floods of 2007.
As this US / UK partnership has developed and world climate change brings flooding issues to the fore, international interest is increasing exponentially and this year will be joined by senior representatives from the EU, Australia and Netherlands as well as US colleagues from across the nation for the Monday at Charlotte Fire Department’s Academy Hall. This year, will concentrate on the strategic challenges arising from major incidents, the challenges of co-coordinating mutual aid across borders, including international borders, and the growing opportunities for the use of helicopters in support of emergency response.
Key focus:
If we are to achieve our goals in setting out to assist with ‘Disaster Reduction’ for all involved in the essential quest to build a safer world then we need to share understanding, information and learning, identify emerging strategies, asset types including the benefits and opportunities for Rescue Service use of air assets, and opportunities for mutual aid / joint working and rendering ‘Assistance across Agencies and Borders – By Breaking down the Barriers’. This event will assist that aim through a better understanding of ‘International Disaster Management Structures’ through the case studies to be presented at the event. A key feature of the programme is that of knowledge transfer to enhance the crisis management, business continuity management and recovery capability of participating organisations. To make sure this event is as effective as possible, it is organised to give all attendees a unique, entertaining, participative and challenging experience. By following incident and exercise timelines and political perspectives provided by experts and leaders of front line responder organisations such as fire and first responders from around the world, delegates will gain a greater understanding of, and insight into rendering assistance across Agencies and Borders and obtain mutual benefit for our citizens and communities.
A key element in debate throughout the conference and workshop is the political context within which major emergencies are handled, and the approaches that might be taken to facilitate mutual aid between developed countries in the future.
Another key feature is the potential role and contribution of aerial assets and helicopters in civil emergency response. This is an area where the Fire and Rescue Services in North Carolina have made significant progress, especially in response to hurricane response and major flood events.