MCDEM lifelines related work (2009/2010)
Sector Coordinating Entity Development (national level)
MCDEM encourages sectors to reinforce their organisational and community resilience by information sharing and participating in organised cluster activities aimed at strengthening sector arrangements across all-hazards and focusing on integrated planning and activities across the spectrum of reduction, readiness, response and recovery.
Section 11. Clusters (pdf 40KB)

In order to streamline operational lifeline sector coordination/communication into and out of the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC), MCDEM have been working with lifeline sectors and other government agencies to develop Sector Coordinating Entities (SCE).

Sector Coordinating Entities (SCE) are seen as a mechanism for individual sectors to come together during response and recovery activities (at a national level) to facilitate sector related solutions (where possible) and to have 'one single voice' into the NCMC. (An example of an SCE is the Transport Response Team [TRT] chaired by the Ministry of Transport).

A draft Terms of Reference for SCEs can be viewed here: Sector Coordinating Entities TOR (doc 50kB)

Lifeline Utility Coordination for Response and Recovery
Leading up to Exercise Ruaumoko work commenced on reviewing arrangements for lifeline coordination and communications during an emergency. The primary aim of this work is to establish the differences in operational coordination as an emergency increases in size and the response levels increase accordingly (particularly in the NCMC). A discussion document was sent to CDEM Group EMOs and Lifeline Groups for comment in February 2008.

This work is ongoing, and ties in with the SCE work discussed above. The final result of this discussion document will likely be reflected in the next revision of The Guide.

View the discussion document: Operational Lifeline Utility Co-ordination Arrangements - Draft Discussion Document (doc 420kB)

Lifeline Utility Coordinator Competency Standards Development
MCDEM’s Sector Development team, in collaboration with the Professional Development Team's Competency Framework project, will be working with the CDEM and Lifelines Sectors to develop Competency Standards for the position of operational Lifeline Utility Coordinators for use in Group EOCs (as described in Section 10 of The Guide).
Subsequently these competencies will be developed into training material and the delivery of a pilot training course.

National CDEM Fuel Planning (NCFP)
Building on from work being done by Auckland and Canterbury CDEM and Lifeline Groups, MCDEM is currently focusing on facilitating contingency planning activities associated with disruptions to petroleum distribution during civil defence emergencies.
Planning activities are focusing on: gap analysis, national level CDEM arrangements, establishment of an operational SCE for the petroleum sector; and the development of a template/guide to assist all CDEM Groups in subsequent regional fuel contingency planning arrangements.

Fast Moving Consumer Goods
The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector is vitally important for the economy, health and well being of the nation. It is because of this that MCDEM approaches the FMCG sector as a “lifeline” even though it is not legislated as a lifeline utility.

The FMCG sector is large and complex with many interdependencies, and maintaining food supply is an absolutely essential requirement for community wellbeing under emergency situations. As well as having significantly well developed plans for pandemic influenza, FMCG company’s just-in-time logistics operations are sustained with already well developed and tested business continuity plans. The support that CDEM Groups are expected to provide to the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector is comparable with the support that Groups are expected to provide to Lifeline Utilities within their region, regardless of the hazard.

Currently MCDEM is engaged with an FMCG working group which is developing a framework to guide planning and engagement between both sectors at national, regional and local levels. Once this framework is developed it will be promulgated throughout the CDEM sector.

View details of the Grocery Industries Pandemic Planning Seminar 2009

For enquires regarding MCDEM lifeline activities email: mark.constable@dia.govt.nz