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Getting more from the Met Office

Malcolm Weatherall 18th April 2007

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Why am I here?

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004

Met Office are not Cat 1 or 2 responder

Do have an obligation under CCA to provide weather information to Cat 1 and 2 responders.

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Removing the brick wall

TO PROMOTE A CLOSER WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MET OFFICE AND THE POLICE FORCE

MOVE ON FROM THE “PASSING THE MESSAGE OVER THE WALL” SCENARIO

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The threat from severe weather

Not top of list identified threats

Most likely to affect us all

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January 18th 2007

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February 8th 2007

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Boscastle 16th August 2004

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North Yorkshire Floods 19th June 2005

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Birmingham Tornado 28th July 2005

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Snow Bodmin and M11

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Glasgow snow 12th March 2006

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Impacts on police operations

Snow

Staff attendance issuesMotorists trapped in snowPublic stranded in city centresIncreased number of calls from publicMobility of vehicles- 4 wheel drive hirePossible power outages

CommsAvailability of fuelLooting

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Impacts on Police Operations

“A Honda 4x4 and Landrover donated by a local garage were available. Fortunately few emergency calls were received other than low level antisocial behaviour of snowball throwing etc”

“Perhaps presence from police and others at the Local Authority command centre would have helped pool resources and tackle issues in a multi-agency approach rather then on an insular basis. A fire tender could need a snow plough to get through and this is best done in a shared control room”

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Public behaviour

“I was out in Glasgow last night and had a fantastic time before trying to endeavour home in the snow in my strappy toeless sandals and ended up in the Royal Infirmary with frostbite affecting my little toe. I will never wear strappy sandals again. This is a serious warning to all girls and some boys...”

“People were skipping in the queue and the police were very unwilling to help at first - they were lucky that there wasn't a riot. The most helpful advice I received from them was that I should have checked the weather forecast before I went out - cheers guys!“

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Impact on police operations

Heatwave

Health and safety of staffHealth of dogs/horsesIncreased road traffic on weekendsForest/moorland firesIncrease in alcohol abusePotential civil unrestIncrease in anti social behaviourDrowning incidentsMotorcycle accidents- Safety campaignsPower loss?

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Impacts on police operations

Heavy rain

Road closures due to floodingIncrease in road accidentsReduction in crimeThunderstorms can trigger alarms

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Impacts on police operations

Severe gales

FatalitiesIncrease in road accidentsRoad closuresHealth and safety of staffPower loss

Availability of fuelCommsLooting

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Impacts on police operations

Fog

Risk of major road traffic collisionImpact on CCTV monitoring

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Increase in call volume

“ it has a huge affect. For example during the heavy winds in late January this year the amount of calls we received increased almost tenfold compared to the norm for that time of day. This huge demand lasted some 4 hours before normal levels of calls returned. We received as many calls that required resourcing during this 4 hour period than we normally receive during an entire 24 hour period”

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Increase in call volume

“Many of these calls were not police specific in that they involved a whole range of issues such as power lines down, telephone cables down, flooding on roads etc etc. The police by default become the multi agency call centre”

“Our call volume increased by 1,000 calls on the day of the snow”

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Warning and informing

National Severe Weather Warning Service

Part of the Public Weather Service

Funded by Central Government

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Warning and informing

Early warningsDays before the event% Risks

Flash warningsHours before the event

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National Severe Weather Warning Service

IMPACT DRIVEN

Severe Gales/Storms

Heavy Rain

Snow/Blizzards

Fog

Icy Roads

Heatwave

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Dissemination of warnings

By fax to Police Control Rooms

By emailGeneric email address

Also appear on the Met Office web site

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Removing the brick wall from the Met Office

A team of Met Office advisors now exists to support Cat 1 and 2 responders

Open up a communication channel with control rooms

Aid in interpretation of warnings

Assist with severe weather plan- contacts!

Attend exercises

Attend/Support Gold/Silver

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Weather intelligent

Check the weather forecast

Day to day basis

Major event planning

Think impacts

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

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Some caution needed with web forecasts

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Where else can we help?

Industrial accidents

Fuel depots

Chemical plants

Nuclear power stations

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Where else can we help?

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Where else can we help?

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The plume

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Example of NAME

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Buncefield Oil Depot

Name Model Output11th Dec. 14:00hrs

Visible Sat Pic 11/14:15

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Buncefield Oil Depot

Visible Sat Pic 12/14:00

Name Model Output12th Dec. 14:00hrs

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The Chemet Service

Requested by Blue Light ServicesNormally fire service

Extra info may be required at Gold/SilverGold Commander from Police ForceAdvisor networkTrusted source of weather information

Plumes can be mocked up for exercises

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Don’t believe what you read in the press

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Advisor Contact Details

Available to take away

Make contact and introduce yourself now NOT during a crisis!

malcolm.weatherall@metoffice.gov.uk

Phone 07770 320488