We need a better response to emergencies

Riddle101 · 28-01-2010 8:08pm #1

It's utterly appalling at how ridiculous the response to things like emergencies are in this country. A couple of months ago, there was a problem with floodings here in Ireland that ended up with houses being ruined a families being in trouble. Then early this month(and I know some will roll their eyes at this) we had a week of snow which practically caused the country to shut down, and it has led me to wonder about Ireland's reaction to events like these. I mean do we actually have any countermeasures if something serious happens. What's the country going to be like if something really terrible happens like what happened in Haiti? I mean sure some would say Ireland would never had a major eathquake but it's really not that unlikely either. Three minor earthquakes were recorded this month in Donegal and it has gotten me wondering about what the likelyhood of a big earthquake happening. What is Ireland's response to a situation like that. Again a major earthquake may not happen but it also makes way for other questions. I was thinking today that Ireland should be prepared for things like this. They should have something set up to rapidly deal with a situation like that, and not just send out the Defence Forces to deal with it either. Maybe invest in setting up a new Organisation or if there already is one, revamp the current to meet the standard criteria, of having an effective response unit. It dosen't just have to be for Ireland either, it could be a response to Foreign aid too. I mean I remember reading in another thread about Haiti where the Republic Of Ireland wasn't even recognised as an aid giver. I think it would be great to have something set up for both Ireland and so that we can help other countries in need of help too. But anyway what are your thoughts?

Solvo Slep · 28-01-2010 8:11pm

A major earthquake will never happen in Ireland. Ever. Those are my thoughts.

Riddle101 · 28-01-2010 8:12pm

Solvo Slep wrote: »

A major earthquake will never happen in Ireland. Ever. Those are my thoughts.

Fair enough but what if just maybe something serious did happen? wouldn't it be better to be prepared?

walshb · 28-01-2010 8:14pm

I seem to recall a few years back, that there was info handed out about what to do in the event of a Nuclear strike, the advice was, Turn away from it, that's no joke

alwaysadub · 28-01-2010 8:16pm

Well i found the iodine tablets the other day that we were all sent in case of attack. They are now yrs out of date but if we do ever have an earthquake or such im sure they'll give me a good buzz. Won't be worrying then.

mikom · 28-01-2010 8:16pm

walshb wrote: »

I seem to recall a few years back info handed out about what to do in the event of a nucler strike, the advice was, Turn away from it, that's no joke

Similar to advice I received on the Catholic church.

phasers · 28-01-2010 8:17pm

Sure I've got my iodine tablet, I'm grand

MrPain · 28-01-2010 8:17pm

walshb wrote: »

I seem to recall a few years back, that there was info handed out about what to do in the event of a Nuclear strike, the advice was, Turn away from it, that's no joke

In that booklet their was a picture of Bertie Ahern and Willie O'Dea(defending us from nuclear bombs you see) and I squiggled a beard on Bertie and tip-exed out Willie's tache. Then I giggled to myself

Mrmoe · 28-01-2010 8:18pm

A more likely scenario would be if a tsunami hit the north, west or south coast of the country. You have 3 cities and a number of towns that might be in the firing line. Cork in particular would be susceptible although they could be far enough inland so I am not sure. Tsunamis have struck Ireland in the past and would be a much more likely source of mass devastation in Ireland. Is there much that could be done? Probably not because something like that would be very difficult to prepare for.

http://www.gsi.ie/Programmes/Bedrock/Projects/Tsunami+warning+system+for+Ireland.htm

Tsunami warning system for Ireland
Since the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, considerable international attention has been directed at establishing an effective international warning system for the world's oceans and seas. The International Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO has established an Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the North Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS) to deliver an initial system in the Mediterranean by end 2007 and a system for the whole region by 2011, which will focus on linking up existing national systems. GSI represents Ireland in this group. In parallel with this process, Ireland is working towards developing its national TWS capability.

Following discussion at the February 2005 meeting of the Government Taskforce on Emergency Planning, the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) was mandated to develop a concept for a tsunami warning system for Ireland in conjunction with other interested stakeholders, both national and international. The concept developed was approved at the meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning in October 2006. The Government has recently mandated the setting up of an inter-Departmental committee to develop a fully designed and costed proposal. The committee will be chaired by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources with representation from Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Department of Education and Science, Department of Defence, and Department of Finance. A technical group will comprise GSI, the Marine Institute, Met Eireann and Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. The team is expected to complete the proposal and submit it to Government for approval later in 2007.

In an Irish context, tsunamis are low probability events that would have very significant impacts. Damaging tsunamis could affect Ireland from several geologically feasible scenarios. For example, recent modelling of a Lisbon earthquake scenario, conducted jointly with the UK, predicts waves up to 4m high along the south Irish coast. The proposed warning system could provide alerts up to four hours before a tsunami might reach our coastline. Its benefits for an informed public in such circumstances are obvious and very significant.

El Guapo! · 28-01-2010 8:22pm

Riddle101 wrote: »

Fair enough but what if just maybe something serious did happen? wouldn't it be better to be prepared?

No.

Id rather my hard earned money was spent on something more realistic like sorting out the poxy health service (which in a way would be preparing for a disaster)
But I dont want money being squandered needlessly for something like an earthquake fund. But I wouldnt put it past our idiotic government to do something like this. :mad:

walshb · 28-01-2010 8:23pm

Ireland's response to a potential Tsunami strike, get swimming lessons

Riddle101 · 28-01-2010 8:27pm

Dean09 wrote: »

No.

Id rather my hard earned money was spent on something more realistic like sorting out the poxy health service (which in a way would be preparing for a disaster)
But I dont want money being squandered needlessly for something like an earthquake fund. But I wouldnt put it past our idiotic government to do something like this. :mad:

I'd rather my money be spent on health care as well. But it's not all about earthquakes, that was merely an example. it dosen't just have to be for disaters but have a response to situations that require aid or simply an effective response, such as flooding.

And like I said before, it's not just about Ireland either but also have a response to international problems too.

Rented Mule · 28-01-2010 8:34pm

Perhaps it is time that people are required to give their county two years of service ? A 'National Guard' program could be devised that would be deployed in these instances.

Son Of A Vidic · 28-01-2010 8:34pm

Solvo Slep wrote: »

A major earthquake will never happen in Ireland. Ever. Those are my thoughts.

Don't count your chickens yet, but there have been 3 earthquakes in North Donegal this week the biggest was 1.7. So you never know, or unless Cowen and Harney were 'at it'. Oh god the thought of it, bring on a 9.5, anything please, just to get that image out of my head.

*Bangs head repeatedly against the wall*

Dunjohn · 28-01-2010 8:40pm

I heard on the radio a few weeks ago where these people got into trouble on their boat and had to be saved by the international rescue services. So don't worry, as long as the Thunderbirds are out there, we're safe.

Overheal · 28-01-2010 8:41pm

Is the task force even really present to produce these measures and procedures? In a larger country like the UK or the US you have whole bodies, like FEMA, who do almost nothing but imagine scenarios that are likely to occur, and then produce and train for the procedural response to such an occurrence. These type of organizations are not cheap to run though. Not effectively.

Not being funny, shouldnt this now be something done at the EU level with an EU body in charge of organizing disaster response in the member states?

Mike 1972 · 28-01-2010 8:44pm

Mrmoe wrote: »

The proposed warning system could provide alerts up to four hours before a tsunami might reach our coastline.

What exactly would be the benefit of this ?

Tusnami alert = everyone tries to move to higher ground at the same time = nobody gets anywhere = water washes over all

Overheal · 28-01-2010 8:48pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

What exactly would be the benefit of this ?

Tusnami alert = everyone tries to move to higher ground at the same time = nobody gets anywhere = water washes over all

In fairness you could make it inland in 4 hours.

A lot will depend on the direction of the Tsunami though. If it hit the Clare Coast the damage would be minimal wouldnt it. Cliffs and all.

Mike 1972 · 28-01-2010 8:56pm

Overheal wrote: »

In fairness you could make it inland in 4 hours.
.

Not if everyone around you is trying to do exactly the same thing at exactly the same time you cant.

Mrmoe · 28-01-2010 9:01pm

Mike 1972 wrote: »

What exactly would be the benefit of this ?

Tusnami alert = everyone tries to move to higher ground at the same time = nobody gets anywhere = water washes over all

There might well be traffic problems alight but I don't think you would have to travel to far to get to higher ground. The important thing would be to get people off the ground and possibly into tall buildings. If you were to take the Indian ocean earthquake/tsunami as an example waves were up to 30 metres in height.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

If you look at some of the tallest storeyed buildings in Ireland there are a few well over this height. Could they withstand the tsunami? That is another question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_structures_in_Ireland

Windsor House, Belfast*, 80m (262 ft)
Belfast City Hospital Tower*, 74m (243 ft)
The Elysian, Cork, 71m (233 ft)/(81m (266 ft) with spire)
Cork County Hall, 67m (220 ft)I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"]citation needed[/URL][/I (formerly 64m (210ft)
Hilton Hotel, Belfast*, 63m (207 ft)
Millennium Tower, Dublin, 63m (207 ft)
BT Riverside Tower, Belfast*, 62m (203 ft)
Divis Tower, Belfast*, 61m (200 ft)
Liberty Hall, Dublin, 59.4m (195 ft)
Riverpoint, Limerick, 59.2m (194 ft)
One George's Quay Plaza, Dublin, 59m (194 ft)
Crowne Plaza. Dundalk 58m (190 ft)
Clarion Hotel, Limerick 57m (187 ft)

You might be correct in that there would be chaos but I would bet that you would save more lives than if the early warning system was not in place.

Chips Lovell · 28-01-2010 9:07pm

Riddle101 wrote: »

It's utterly appalling at how ridiculous the response to things like emergencies are in this country.

You get what you vote for.

Fiskar · 28-01-2010 9:29pm

Anyone aware of the Emergency Planning Society of Ireland?

Here is their weblink

http://www.the-eps.org/regional-branches/republic-of-ireland/

Plans are in place to deal with emergencies, just not the irregular ones

Food for thought, we will have one almighty emergency to deal with if we don't find alternatives to imported gas and oil. Infrastructure development is a key component and that does not include the roads and houses we built as our legacy from the Celtic tiger years!

Overheal · 28-01-2010 9:43pm

Mrmoe wrote: »

There might well be traffic problems alight but I don't think you would have to travel to far to get to higher ground. The important thing would be to get people off the ground and possibly into tall buildings. If you were to take the Indian ocean earthquake/tsunami as an example waves were up to 30 metres in height.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

If you look at some of the tallest storeyed buildings in Ireland there are a few well over this height. Could they withstand the tsunami? That is another question.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_structures_in_Ireland

Windsor House, Belfast*, 80m (262 ft)

Belfast City Hospital Tower*, 74m (243 ft)

The Elysian, Cork, 71m (233 ft)/(81m (266 ft) with spire)

Cork County Hall, 67m (220 ft)I][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed"]citation needed[/URL][/I (formerly 64m (210ft)

Hilton Hotel, Belfast*, 63m (207 ft)

Millennium Tower, Dublin, 63m (207 ft)

BT Riverside Tower, Belfast*, 62m (203 ft)

Divis Tower, Belfast*, 61m (200 ft)

Liberty Hall, Dublin, 59.4m (195 ft)

Riverpoint, Limerick, 59.2m (194 ft)

One George's Quay Plaza, Dublin, 59m (194 ft)

Crowne Plaza. Dundalk 58m (190 ft)

Clarion Hotel, Limerick 57m (187 ft)

You might be correct in that there would be chaos but I would bet that you would save more lives than if the early warning system was not in place.

I think you might be underestimating the power of a tsunami wave. And I wouldnt suspect those buildings where at all designed with that occurence in mind.

Surge height isnt the only factor. look at the LA river. Just a foot of water is enough to sweep you away and potentially get you killed. The amount of comparable force ploughing into buildings than flushing back out to see would be a much greater order of magnitude.

Borneo Fnctn · 28-01-2010 9:47pm

Riddle101 wrote: »

I mean sure some would say Ireland would never had a major eathquake but it's really not that unlikely either.

Bollocks

Again a major earthquake may not happen...

Of course it fucking won't.

Riddle101 · 28-01-2010 11:22pm

Borneo Fnctn wrote: »

Bollocks

Of course it fucking won't.

No need to be rude. A simple no would have been more appropriate.

DubMedic · 28-01-2010 11:55pm

I just cannot see our government being in anyway helpful if a really bad crisis was to hit this country.
Our government has already shown that it is crap at handling finances.. so I can only imagine what it's disaster management capabilities would be like under pressure.

.