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Coordination in an emergency

CP-Ops on site
The coordination of an emergency takes place at the municipal, provincial or federal level. At each level, a mayor, governor, or the Minister of the Interior can declare a phase.

Operational coordination 

Operational coordination requires coordination in the field. In this case, an Operational Command Post or CP-Ops is set up.

This CP-Ops comprises:

  • A Director of the Operational Command Post or Dir-CP-Ops, who will be in charge.
  • A representative of each discipline:
    • Discipline 1: the Director of the assistance area or Dir-BW.
    • Discipline 2: The Director of medical assistance or Dir-Med.
    • Discipline 3: The Director of Police or Dir-Pol.
    • Discipline 4: the Director of logistics or Dir-Log.
    • Discipline 5: the Director of information or Dir-Info.

The Dir-CP-Ops is the highest ranked officer at the scene. This is always an officer of the assistance area in whose territory the emergency occurs. This person must also have a Dir-CP-Ops certificate of competence.

Municipal phase

During a municipal phase, a mayor is in charge. When a municipal phase is declared by the mayor, a municipal coordination committee or CC-GEM meets.

This CC-GEM comprises:

  • The mayor
  • The emergency planning coordinator
  • A representative of each discipline:
    • Discipline 1: Dir-D1.
    • Discipline 2: Dir-D2.
    • Discipline 3: Dir-D3.
    • Discipline 4: Dir-D4
    • Discipline 5: Dir-D5
  • + if necessary, a working group that prepares and executes certain tasks
  • + if necessary, other persons necessary for the management of the crisis, e.g. experts

The coordination committee is always in contact with the Operational Command Post in the field.

Provincial phase

During a provincial phase, a governor is in charge. When a provincial phase is declared by the governor, a provincial coordination committee (or CC-PROV) meets.

This CC-PROV comprises:

  • The governor
  • The emergency planning coordinator of the province
  • A representative of each discipline:
    • Discipline 1: Dir-D1.
    • Discipline 2: Dir-D2.
    • Discipline 3: Dir-D3.
    • Discipline 4: Dir-D4
    • Discipline 5: Dir-D5
  • + if necessary, a working group per discipline that prepares and executes certain tasks
  • + if necessary, other persons necessary for the management of the crisis, e.g. experts

The provincial coordination committee is always in contact with the Operational Command Post in the field and the municipal crisis cell(s).

Federal phase

During a federal phase, the Minister of the Interior is in charge. When a Minister declares a federal phase, four different committees come together:

  • The evaluation committee collects information, evaluates the situation and gives advice to COFECO. This committee is composed of experts and scientists from the various competent authorities or services.
  • The Federal Coordination Committee or COFECO assesses the situation and its evolution, proposes measures to protect the population to the policy committee and distributes available supra-local resources. This committee is composed of representatives of disciplines and public services.
  • The policy committee endorses the measures proposed by COFECO. This committee is composed of the competent ministers. They have the power to adopt measures and bear the political responsibility for them.
  • The information committee communicates about the measures. This committee is made up of the Communications Officers or spokespersons of the departments involved.

The Federal Coordination Committee is always in contact with the provincial crisis cell(s) and departmental or regional crisis centres, which implement the decisions within their own areas of competence.

Criteria

The decision to declare a certain phase is based on several criteria:

  • How large is the area of (the consequences of) the emergency?
  • How many resources are needed to manage the emergency?
  • How many victims are there?
  • What is the need for coordination?
  • How big is the social impact of the emergency?
  • Is the emergency very complex?
  • What need for information is there?
  • How is the emergency evolving?

Tasks of a CP-Ops and coordination committee

The tasks of the Operational Command Post include:

  • Consultation between the various disciplines.
  • Providing information about the emergency to the authorities concerned and the emergency call centre 112.
  • Organising the emergency area.
  • Monitoring the safety of personnel in relief operations and ensuring their protection.
  • Keeping a logbook.

The tasks of the coordination committee include:

  • Consultation between the various partners.
  • Taking protective measures for the population.
  • Ensuring a shared view of the facts, decisions and measures, via the national safety portal.
  • Assessing and evaluating the socio-economic impact of measures.
  • Supervising the implementation of the measures.
  • Requesting additional personnel and equipment, possibly through requisitions.
  • Thinking about the actions to be taken after the emergency.
  • Keeping a logbook.