Scottish Government Resilience:Communicating from ‘the bunker’

Andrew Slorance – Resilience Communications Manager

Disasters and Tragedies

• Lockerbie• Braer• Glasgow• Piper Alpha• Dunblane

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/08/london_riots.html

Communication in a crisis• Warning, informing & reassuring the public

• Instant communications & 24 hour media

• Response and consequence phases

• Local and national roles & messages

• Training and exercising

• Joint working is vital

TYPICAL WEATHER PARTNERSHIPS

Weather ‘events’ case study – snow & ice• Weather forecasts (regular Met Office updates)

• Transport disruption – rail, road and air

• Fuel distribution (panic buying)

• Food supplies (more panic buying – or not?)

• Power cuts (what happens if widespread outage?)

• Heating oil and gas supplies (rural areas)

• Frozen pipes

• Flooding

Weather events case study – wind

• Weather forecasts (bulk get info from TV)• Warning the public (wind not as visible)• Travel advice (revised ACPOS guidance)• School closures (we advised, councils decide)• Workplace advice (what would you do?)• Tree disruption – transport and power

Key Scottish Government role

• Leadership in national emergencies

• Helping secure best possible outcomes

• Reassure and inform the public

• Add value and support responders

http://www.readyscotland.org/ready-government/preparing-scotland/

What does SGoRR do?• Sets strategic direction for national response• Co-ords & supports activity of SG directorates• Collates info and advises Ministers• Ensures effective comms between all players• Supports allocation of scarce national resources• Issues national advice and info to the public• Liaises with UK Government (where relevant)

Risk Assessment – planning ahead

For further info, please do not hesitate to contact me:

Andrew Slorance, SG Resilience Comms

andrew.slorance@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Tel: 0131 244 0099 Mob: 07771 943328