A disaster or emergency situation is tackled by various intervention services, whereby each discipline has a mono-disciplinary intervention plan that describes its own operation. Where multiple disciplines are deployed simultaneously, joint coordination is required and this is referred to as a multi-disciplinary deployment[1].
DISCIPLINE 1: THE MEDICAL AID OPERATIONS
Discipline 1 missions are carried out by fire brigades, which may be assisted by operational units from civil protection. Their duties include:
- Managing the emergency situation and eliminate the associated risks;
- Locating, freeing and rescuing people and protecting their property;
- Recovering people and property.
DISCIPLINE 2: THE MEDICAL, SANITARY AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSISTANCE
Discipline 2 missions are performed by medical and psychosocial services (e.g. ambulance services, MUG/SMUR services, the Red Cross, psychosocial workers, the Federal Health Inspectorate, etc.). The most important missions in this discipline are discussed later on in this report.
DISCIPLINE 3: THE POLICE AT THE EMERGENCY SITE
Discipline 3 missions are performed by federal and local police and are as follows:
- Maintaining and restoring public order;
- Keeping access and evacuation routes clear;
- Setting perimeters, physically defining them, signalling and monitoring access control to the intervention area;
- Conducting evacuations of the population and overseeing shelter;
- Identifying fatalities;
- Assisting in the judicial investigation.
DISCIPLINE 4: LOGISTICAL SUPPORT
Discipline 4 missions are performed by civil protection, the fire brigade and the army. Their duties include:
- Ensuring reinforcement of personnel and equipment, as well as providing special rescue and relief equipment;
- Organising the technical means for communication between the disciplines, the operational command post and the coordination committee;
- Organising the supply of food and drinking water for the emergency services and the people affected.
DISCIPLINE 5: INFORMATION
Discipline 5 missions are carried out by a communications manager and consist of:
- Providing information and guidance to the public;
- Providing information on measures for returning to normal.
[1]Source: https://crisiscenter.be/en/what-do-authorities-do/crisis-management/organisation-emergency