POLICY Flood Rescue Issued August 2009

POLICY Flood Rescue Issued August 2009

Flood Rescue Policy 1. This Flood Rescue Policy covers rescue as defined in SRB policy from the environmental threat flood as defined in the State Flood Plan. 2. A flood is defined in the State Flood Plan, (Sub-plan of the NSW Displan) as follows: Flood: Relatively high water level which overtops the natural or artificial banks in any part of a stream, river, estuary, lake or dam, and/or local overland flooding associated with drainage before entering a watercourse, and/or coastal inundation resulting from super-elevated sea levels and/or waves overtopping coastline defences. (Note that any vehicular or pedestrian access way is deemed to be an artificial bank.) 3. Rescue is defined in State Rescue Board (SRB) Policy as the safe removal of persons or domestic animals from actual or threatened danger of physical harm. 4. The SES is responsible for Flood Rescue Operations as per Displan arrangements in NSW. SRB Policy at Section 1.34 affirms the SES as the combat agency for floods, which includes flood rescue. 5. In accordance with SRB Policy Section 1.34, this Flood Rescue Policy details the requirements for other agencies to undertake Flood Rescue and further details the processes and procedures by which the SES will manage Flood Rescue accreditation. The flood rescue accreditation process will be administered by the SRB Secretariat as per the flow chart at Annexure 1. 6. An accredited flood rescue Unit will comprise of those elements as outlined in Section 1.09 of the SRB Policy. 7. Flood Rescue accreditation will be specified at three (3) levels linked to the capability to perform flood rescue techniques as outlined in Annexure 2. The levels relate to the Flood Rescue continuum and aligns Flood Rescue within the framework of reach, throw, row, go, and helo ; and recognises that different training requirements, equipments, and operating procedures are required for each of these levels. 8. Helicopter (Level 4) operations and responses can be determined by the SES Operations Controller or the most senior officer of the accredited flood rescue unit or the senior police officer on the scene and be either coordinated through the VKG RCO (or an alternative established police rescue coordinating mechanism) or the SES Aircraft Management Cell where established. In any event the Police RCO is to be advised. Page 2

9. The SES will utilise the RCO within NSW Police VKG Centres to provide an initial coordinated response to flood rescue operations in NSW. Such flood rescue operations are to be conducted in accordance with priorities established by the SES Operations Controller. 10. Flood rescue responses post the initial coordination provided by the RCO are to be managed in accordance with the SES Controller s direction, which may include the establishment of a specific Flood Rescue coordination mechanism. The SES controller will control all assigned flood rescue assets from all Agencies. 11. It is the responsibility of the head of each organisation that provides flood accredited units, to carry out such inspections as may be required to ensure that those units are capable of carrying out the tasks, in all aspects, with sufficient qualified personnel and equipment for the levels for which they have been accredited 12. In accordance with Section 1.16 of the SRB Policy which states accreditation is not required for organisations, or elements of them for their statutory roles, the SES performs Flood Rescue across the State within the limits of individual members and Units level of capability. 13. In developing and maintaining flood rescue capability, rescue units and agencies are to adopt a risk management approach (as outlined in the RSDM). Each Unit s training, vehicles, boats, equipment and procedures are to be sufficient and appropriate to address the risks that exist in the Unit s area of operation. 14. Heads of agencies are to provide annual reports to the SRB (as per the process at Annexure 1) at the completion of each financial year. 15. The SES determines the appropriate training, equipment and procedural standards for flood rescue techniques and procedures after consideration and reference to other specialist rescue activities and standards in NSW and internationally and will continually monitor and up date these requirements. 16. The SES prescribes equipment suitable for flood rescue based on the type of rescue task to be undertaken and the local conditions. For those agencies seeking various levels of accreditation for flood rescue advice should be sought from the regions SES Controller as to the SES standards for that environment. Other agencies must meet the SES standards for those levels of accreditation. Page 3

17. The basic training for flood rescue operators, accredited to perform rescues within Level 1, are the following competencies as sourced from the Public Safety Training package: PUACOM001C PUACOM002B PUATEA001B PUATEA004C PUAOHS001C PUAOPE002B PUAEME001B PUAEME002C PUALAW001B PUAOHS002B PUASAR001BA BSBFLM301B PUASAR009A or SROWWR001B Communicate in the workplace Provide services to clients Work in a team Work effectively in a public safety organisation Follow defined occupational health and safety policies and procedures Operate communication systems and equipment Provide emergency care Manage injuries at emergency incident Protect and preserve incident scene Maintain safety at an incident scene Participate in a rescue operation Participate in Work Teams (Team Leader) Participate in an aquatic rescue operation Apply self rescue skills in white water Note (For those operators who do not have SROWWR001B, a three metre exclusion zone is to be established from the waters edge. Those operators within the exclusion zone must be tied off to a secure anchor point). 18. In order for rescue Units to attain accreditation at Level 2, the following additional competencies, over and above those for Level 1, are required: PUAOPE003A PUASES003A SROWWR001B Navigate in Urban and Rural Environs Undertake Flood and Inland Waterways Rescue Boat Operations Apply self rescue skills in white water 19. In order for rescue Units to attain accreditation at Level 3, accredited Units must have completed all those competencies related to Level 1 and the following additional competencies: SROWWR002B SROWWR003B Perform white water rescues and recoveries Perform a comprehensive range of white water rescues and recoveries 20. Agencies need to ensure that their operators maintain competence through regular training, exercising and operational deployment. Page 4

21. Multi-agency training activities are encouraged by the State Emergency Service and the State Rescue Board as a means of exchanging ideas, improving interoperability, and developing capability. 22. Agencies are to ensure that all flood rescue equipment is fit for purpose and meets appropriate standards as set by the State Emergency Service. 23. An accredited flood rescue Unit will comprise a minimum number of operators as described in Annexure 2. Annexures: 1. Flood Rescue Accreditation Process Flood Chart 2. Categories of Flood Rescue Policy details Approved by State Rescue Board Date approved 26 th August 2009 Effective from: Immediately Relevant legislation: SERMAct Related policies: NSW Rescue Policy Key references/further info: Revision history: Next review date: Responsible agency: State Emergency Service Page 5

Annexure 1 Flood Rescue Policy Dated 26 August 2009 Flood Rescue Accreditation Process Flood Chart Agency applies to LRC for accreditation for Flood Rescue. Local Rescue Committee considers the need for capability (over and above the existing SES accredited Unit) utilising the principles and processes as described in the RSDM Recommended by DRSC YES Forwarded to SES SHQ for preaccreditation approval. NO NO End of process Dis-approve and advise SRB YES Unit equipped to perform accredited Flood Rescue role. Unit members train and establish procedures and resources to meet the provisions of Section 1.09 of SRB Policy and Sections 13,14,15 & 16 of Flood Rescue Policy SES approves preaccreditation at the determined level of 1,2 or 3. Approve application and recommend accreditation to Minister Minister agrees accreditation. All agencies with accredited flood rescue capability report annually to SRB, indicating compliance to accreditation standards. Issued August 2009

Annexure 2 Flood Rescue Policy Dated 26 th August 2009 Categories of Flood Rescue Method Description Required Level of Accreditation Reach Throw Try to reach the victim from shore by extending a pole, ladder or piece of inflated fire hose or utilising a high clearance vehicle. Since the rescuer is not in the water, the risk to him is obviously very low 1 Throw a flotation device to the swimmer. In the river, this usually refers to the throw bag, which all rescue teams should have and train on regularly Minimum Accredited Operator Req. Row Use a boat to get to the victim 2 3 2 2 Go Helo High Risk - These refer to inwater rescues. Since a significant number of wouldbe rescuers drown each year attempting to rescue someone, this option is considered a high risk option which should be utilised only after lower risk options have been exhausted While professional helicopter crews freely admit that they are willing to attempt anything, they are also the first to counsel that local rescuers should be attempting all other options first while the helicopter is en-route. Helicopters must be used conservatively and not relied upon as the primary rescue technique 3 3 No accreditation required at this level and the use of helicopters is at the direction of the SES Operations controller or the NSW Police RCO N/A Issued August 2009