MOD Defence Office Military contribution to the disaster relief operation during the red sludge disaster Eng. Colonel Attila SÜLE Ministry of Defense Defense Administration Office Director
MOD Defence Office Agenda 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The role and the organisation of the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF) Disaster Relief System The disaster and its consequences Disaster relief operation Tasks of the HDF Experiences
Military Disaster Relief System in the National Disaster Management Government Governmental Coordinaton Commitee Defence Work Commitee (not activated) County Defence Commitees Operative Staff of the GCC Sectoral Organisations Military Disaster Relief System
Main Features of the Military Disaster Relief System Specially designed for disaster management command and control structure; Practically all useful capabilities of the HDF included; There are 33 so called work units with more than 1500 personnel assigned to the system; More personnel and equipment can be included as per request and subsequent authorisation.
The Red Sludge Reservoir Before Disaster 5
MOD Defence Office The Disaster and its Consequences On 04 Oct 2010., at 12.15 hrs, the northwestern corner of the dam of caustic waste reservoir between Kolontar and Ajka collapsed; Around 600 700 000 m3 spilled red mud flooded the deepest parts of Kolontár, Devecser and Somlóvásárhely; Highly alkaline, corrosive industrial waste spread out about the area of 40 km2; 10 deads and more than 150 persons seriously injured; The highly alkaline chemicals killed all life in Torna Stream and the Marcal River below the mouth of Torna;
Kolontár 7
MOD Defence Office The Disaster and its Consequences
Devecser 9
MOD Defence Office Operation begins The Defense Committee of the Veszprém County contacted the MoD immediately The command and control elements and the assigned units of the Military Disaster Response System reached their readiness in very short notice The units of the HDF arrived with the first responders to the damaged area The MoD liaison officers assured the close and operative coordination with the central and regional organs
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MOD Defence Office Involved Organizations The central, regional and local national organizations and the municipalities participated in the disaster response operations; Main National Organizations: General Directorate of The National Disaster Relief ; HDF; Police; Environmental and Water Directorates
MOD Defence Office National and Regional Command and Control Central command and control elements: Government; Special governmental representative; Operative Staff of the Governmental Coordination Committee (GCC); Public Information Group of the GCC; National Engineering Directing Staff Sectoral Directive Bodies Regional and local command and control: Defense Committee of the Veszprém County Mayor of Devecser; Mayor of Kolontár; On-site Disaster Relief Operative Staff Supporting defence commitees: Győr-Moson-Sopron County; Komárom-Esztergom County; Fejér County; Tolna County
MOD Defence Office HDF Participation HDF Disaster Relief Operative Commitee 2 Disaster Relief Operative Groups Units for evacuation and cleaning, special units (CBRN, engineer, air, medical and logistic) Military Hospital-State Medical Centre
MOD Defense Office Main Tasks of the HDF CBRN Measurements of radiation and primary identification of chemical composition of the red sludge; Decontamination of personnel, vehicles, equipment, and solid surface roads of Devecser, and Kolontár; Participation in decontamination efforts of Torna Stream and Marcal River Evacuation Participation in evacuation of Kolontár; Preparation for full evacuation of Devecser; Technical and Engineer Support Construction of bridges; Help in removal of the red sludge from homes, streets and backyards; Medical support First aid and air medical evacuation; Hospitalisation to the Military Hospital.
MOD Defence Office Supporting Tasks of the HDF Air support military air control over the airspace of the disaster area (6000 feets high and 10 km wide); air surveillance; transportation Logistic support transportation assets, (fuel, trucks, buses) Beds, folding cots; mobile kitchens Signal support (TETRA system)
MOD Defence Office Main Experiences The Military Disaster Relief System of the HDF had quick response time, the mobilised units acted effectively; It is proven again that military culture, high discipline of units and their special capabilities can be valuable contribution to the management of major disasters; Reinforcement of the County Defense Committees has improved the effectiveness.
MOD Defence Office Thank you for your attention!