Emergency Managementin Tonga

National Emergency Management PlanPrepared under the provisions of the

Emergency Management Act 2007

Structure of the plan:– The Committees:

• 3 Thematic Committees at National Level• 5 District Committees (‘Eua, Ha’apai, Vava’u,

Niuatoputapu, Niuafo’ou)• Village Committees (all villages throughout Tonga)

– Roles and Responsibilities of the Committees– Plans:

• National Emergency Management Plan• District Emergency Management Plan

– A: Disaster Risk Reduction• National Risk Reduction Strategy and Programme

– B: Emergency Management• Disaster Management Roles and Timeline

Storm surge – $1.4 million

Sleeping giant- last eruption was 1946

Tornadoes-The latest event was happened in September

2004

Most recent event(15 Mar 09) – Hunga Tonga about 60 km to the NNW of Nuku’alofa (Tongatapu) erupted.

NTT Tsunami 30 th Sept 2009. Three waves were reported with the last one

reaching six meters

Average of 1cyclone/yrCyclone Waka 2001($104m)

4 May, 2006 (7.8 magnitude)

Coastal flooding9th Jan2009

Names and Relationships

Roles and Responsibilities

NATIONAL COMMITTEES

Structure National Disaster Council

(NDC) (CABINET)

National Emergency Operations Committee

(NEOC)

Members:PMO, MOI, Foreign Affairs, Police, Military (TDS)

National EmergencyRecovery Committee

(NERC)

Members:PMO, MOI, Finance and Planning, Foreign Affairs, Military (TDS), NGO representative

Chair: Hon. Minister of Infrastructure

Policy and Preparedness

Delivery ofEmergency Response

Coordination of Relief and Recovery

District Emergency Management CommitteeChair: Governor/ Gov’t Rep

Village Emergency Management CommitteeChair: Town Officer

National Emergency Management Committee

(NEMC)

Members:PMO, MOI, Finance and Planning, Agriculture, Health, Police, Military (TDS), Lands, Education

Secretary: NEMO NEMO Secretary: NEMO

Composition All Ministers Prime Minister (chair)

NEOC communicates directly with NDC, to fast track clearance and operation

National Disaster Council (CABINET)

National DisasterCouncil (NDC)

Responsibilities The Council decides the scale of

assistance required in a major emergency

Decisions are based on advice from the Minister of Infrastructure, the National Emergency Management Committee

Endorse the work of the Committee – preparedness activities, any legislation

All reports are submitted to Cabinet

National EmergencyManagement Committee (NEMC)

Responsibilities• Makes policy decisions of national significance• Ensures arrangements with other nations and relevant

bodies are in place• Supports District Emergency Management Committees; • Ensure effective emergency management and response in

communities during all phases

Composition Hon. Minister of Infrastructure Chief Secretary & Secr. to Cabinet CEO for Infrastructure CEO for Finance and Planning CEO for Agriculture, Forestry,

Fisheries and Food CEO for Health

Commissioner for Police Commander of Tonga Def. Services CEO for Lands, Environment,Climate

Change & Natural Resources CEO for Education & Training Secretary: NEMO manager

National Emergency Management Committee

Members:PMO, Min. of Infrastructure, Finance and Planning, Agriculture, Health, Police, Military (TDS), Lands, Education Secretary: NEMO

National EmergencyOperations Committee (NEOC)

Responsibilities• Activate ministries and

organisations in response to an event

• Liaise with ministries, non government organisations and community groups in the execution of their emergency management roles

National Emergency Operations Committee

Members:PMO, Min. of Infrastructure, Foreign Affairs, Police, Military (TDS)

NEMO

Composition Minister for Infrastructure (Chair) CEO for Infrastructure Commissioner for Police Commander, Tonga Defence Services

Secretary for Foreign Affairs the NECC Manager

Others can be invited such as Tonga Red Cross, INGOs

Carry out initial assessment;

Collate and prioritise immediate disaster relief requirements

Manage distribution of immediate relief supplies

Responsibilities • Coordinates:

– Provision of Emergency Relief– All recovery and rehabilitation works

• Detailed assessment (in partnership with DEMC)• A decision-making body on operational decisions in the

recovery phase

National EmergencyRecovery Committee (NERC)

Composition Hon. Minister for Infrastructure

(Chair) Chief Secretary and Secr. to Cabinet CEO for Finance CEO for Infrastructure Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Commander of Tonga Def. Services Representative of non-government

organisations Secretary: NEMO manager

National EmergencyRecovery Committee

Members:PMO, Min. of Infrastructure, Finance and Planning, Foreign Affairs, Military (TDS), NGO representative

Secretary: NEMO

Responsibilities

• Maintains the National Emergency Management System operations

• Develops and maintains the National Emergency Management Plan

• Focuses on a comprehensive approach to emergency management

• Runs and trains staff of the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre

National EmergencyManagement Office (NEMO)

NEMO

Provides a 24/7 duty officer for alerts Co-ordinates support to response agencies Co-ordination of reconnaissance and post-impact assessment Organises public information before, during and after emergencies Designs and maintains a locally-based public education/awareness Provides secretariat support to the National Emergency Management

Committee

Responsibilities• Provide support to communities to ensure

effective emergency management before, during and after the impact of an event

• Ensure community awareness of emergency management

• Identify and coordinate the use of resources for emergency operations

• Manage emergency operations• Establish and review emergency

communications systems • Ensure information about an event or an

emergency is promptly provided to the NEMC.

District Emergency Management CommitteeChair: Governor

Composition Governor or Government

Representative (Chair)

Any other members appointed by the chairman with the approval of the Minister

District EmergencyManagement Committee (DEMC)

Responsibilities• Identify and coordinate the use of resources

for emergency operations• Manage emergency operations

in the village

• Establish and review emergency communication systems in the village

• Ensure information about an event or an emergency in the village is promptly provided to the District Emergency Management Committee

Village EmergencyManagement Committee (VEMC)

Village Emergency Management CommitteeChair: Town Officer

Composition Town officer (Chair) Community Representatives

Representatives appointed by the town officer with the approval of the Minister

Activation of Disaster Management System

Event

Local Agencies

Need Help

?

Managed with Agency Procedures

Request Assistance from DEMC

Need Help

?

Request Assistance from NEMC

Managed with District Resources

No

Yes

NoYes

Need Help

? ?

Operational Lead AgenciesFor certain types of emergency, a lead coordination agency is identified:

Animal or Plant disease

Min

istr

y o

f A

gri

cult

ure

, Fo

rest

ry a

nd F

ood

Fire

Tonga F

ire S

erv

ice

Cyclone, Storm,

EQ, Volcano, Tsunami

NEM

O (

on b

ehalf o

f N

EM

C)Human Epidemi

c

Min

istr

y o

f H

ealt

h

Major Infra-

structure Failure

Pow

er:

To

nga

Ele

ctri

cal

Pow

er

Board

Com

mu

ni-

cati

on

s:

Com

m D

ept,

PM

O,

TCC

Major Trans-

portation Event

Tonga P

olic

e F

orc

e

Terrorist Activity

Tonga P

olic

e

Forc

e

Tonga

Defe

nse

Serv

ices

Water Conta-

mination

Min

istr

y o

f H

ealt

h

Oil Spill

Mari

ne a

nd

Port

Auth

ori

tyM

inis

try o

f In

frast

ruct

ure

Plane Crash

Tonga P

olic

e

Forc

eTo

nga F

ire

Serv

ice

Part C of the NEMP requires Individual Business Continuity and

Emergency Response Plan • Responsibility of individual agencies to develop and maintain their

Business Continuity and Emergency Response Plan• Ensure they remain functional during emergencies or recover as soon as

possible to provide core services

Foreign Affairs Link with diplomatic corp, foreign governments

Tonga Power Restoration of power

Tonga Defence Services Relief distribution, SAR

Lands Geotechnical info, GIS mapping

Tonga Met. Service Weather forecasting, met. and environmental services

Roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies in accordance with core

business (examples)

 Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) 

  Maintenance of a national telecommunication capacity,

including land-line, mobile telephone, satellite telephone and internet services

 

Tonga Broadcasting Corporation

  Provision of emergency related public information as

advised by NEMO   Broadcast of Special Weather Bulletins and other

information in conjunction with the Tonga Meteorological Service.

 

Tonga Water Board

  Provide and maintain reticulated water supply as installed

Provide advice and assistance in relation to water provision in emergency affected areas

 Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) 

  Maintenance of a national telecommunication capacity,

including land-line, mobile telephone, satellite telephone and internet services

Advice Government on capacity status during emergencies 

Tonga Broadcasting Corporation

  Provision of emergency related public information as

advised by NEMO   Broadcast of Special Weather Bulletins and other

information in conjunction with the Tonga Meteorological Service.

 

 Tonga Red Cross

Provision of relief supplies, emergency shelter, and first aid service for disaster affected people as appropriate, in co-ordination with Emergency Management Tonga

Operational Support Functional PlanEmergency Support

FunctionPrimary Agency Support Agency

Communications Department of Communications, Prime

Minister’s Office

Tonga Communication Corporation

Digicel

Community Awareness and Training

National Emergency Management Office

US Peace CorpsCivil Society

Ministry of EducationTonga Red Cross

Caritas Tonga

Evacuation Tonga Police Force Tonga Defence Service

Evacuation Centre Management

Ministry of Health (Public Health)

Tonga Red Cross

Impact Assessment Ministry of Infrastructure NEMOMinistry of Health

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food

Ministry of Land, Survey and Natural Resources

Ministry of Environment

Medical Ministry of Health

Public Health Ministry of Health

Public Information Information Unit, Prime Minister’s Office

National Emergency Management Office

Electronic Media OutletsPrint Media

Public Works Ministry of Infrastructure

Transportation Air, Sea, Land: Ministry of Infrastructure

Shipping CompaniesPrivate Transport

Companies

Utilities Water: Tonga Water BoardPower: Tonga Electric Power

BoardTonga PowerWater Board

Warning Emergency Management Tonga

Tonga Meteorological Service

Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources

Electronic MediaPrint Media

Welfare National Emergency Relief Committee

ChurchesTNCCNGOs

Information sharing and supportResponse

Agencies

District Emergency Management Committee

National Disaster Management Committee

SU

PPO

RT

INFO

RM

ATIO

N

National Emergency Response Procedures

General Alert proceduresNEMO: Receive information Confirm information Alert District EMC Check Emergency Communications

Notify Minister of Infrastructure, NEMC, NEO Committee, Diplomatic Corps, and Organisations with DM role

Activate Public Information Plan Ensure NEC Centre (NECC) is on standby

NEO Committee: Ensure Business Continuity and

Emergency Response Plans are ready for each agency

Ensure District Emergency Committees are alerted and Plans are ready

National Emergency Response Procedures

Cyclone Alert procedures Liaise with TMS Maintain contact with

DEMCs Brief NEOC (with TMS)

about situation and evacuation req.

NECC on 24/7 with max staff

Maintain Public Information via Radio

Agencies on Standby Assess likelihood of

evacuation order Close schools and Govt

Offices Activate Business

Continuity Plans

Monitor event Monitor Situation Ensure public is informed

24 hrs before 12 hrs before Impact

NEM

ON

EO

Com

mit

tee

National Emergency Response Procedures

Post Impact Liaise with TMS Collect initial sit reps and

assessments from districts Brief NEOC and NEMC on

overall assessment Initial National Sit Report Distribute report to NEMC,

OCHA,SOPAC,Media,Dipl.

Consolidate Agency Sit Report

Daily National Sit Report sent to same recipients

Brief NEMC Maintain 24/7 NECC

Return NECC to standby Check communications Conduct Ops debrief Final National Sit Report Finalize all other reporting

Contact District Reps. Collect Agency Sit Reports Identify initial relief req. Send National Damage

Assessment Teams Input to Initial Nat’l Sit Rep Activate emergency relief Recommend State of Em.

Press release Activate National

Emergency Recovery Committee

Coordinate relief activities

Liaise with Foreign Aff. Provide customs/imm/quar.

Support for incoming aid

Final NEOC Ops debrief

24 hrs after 48 hrs after Stand down72 hrs after

NEM

ON

EO

Com

mit

tee

Disaster Cycle Concept

Before During AfterPrevention Response RehabilitationMitigation ReconstructionPreparedness

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

•Tonga Defence Services•Police.•NEMO•NGOs

National Emergency Operation Committee

National Emergency Management Office

Alert/ActivationNEOC

National Disaster Council

Pre Impact Phase

State of Emergency

National Emergency Operation Committee

Foreign Ministry

Diplomatic Mission

Donor Nations

Immediate Post Impact

Post Disaster

National Recovery Committee

Emergency Phase