Summary and Indicators of Lessons Learned from Case Studies

The ME examined in previous sections indicate that they were directly caused by bad weather or weather-related factors. While the influencing factor points to the likely causes

68

of ME in the UAE, it is acknowledged that ME have continued to cause planning and response concern for emergency services in the UAE especially ADP who take a lead on response arrangement for every emergency in Abu Dhabi and at times in other regions. The pattern of ME in UAE also suggests the need for better preparedness and planning which can increase awareness on and ability to identify potential ME and process, probability and consequences, scope of contingency planning and institute mechanisms for lessons learned. Although response arrangements appear to have improved especially to motorway accidents, it is evident from both case study evaluation that contingency planning and elements of effective contingency planning is lacking in current practice in the UAE.

Based on general observation of trends of ME in UAE, it seems the incidents tend to escalate quickly in similar manner as those in US and Japan examined in chapter two. Escalation of emergencies to ME may have motivated the government to acquire more equipment, develop national response framework and improve on exercise and training of responders (Bell et al., 2014). However, more focus is yet to be given to using lessons learned from past major emergencies for contingency planning in the most effective manner. This gap emphasises the need for this research, and its application since it contains explanations for and evaluation of lessons learned mechanisms in other countries.

Despite the limitation in the UAE system, the “cause and effect” and ripple effects of extreme events is undeniable and evident from all these case studies. The UAE events were all caused by severe weather resulting in multiple car collision due to low visibility or adverse weather conditions. Thus, ME can be seen to have similarity in terms of scales, unprecedented occurrence and/or mixture of natural and man-made incidents which make them challenging to manage (Perrow, 2011). In addition, it is noticed from the case study evaluation that ME in UAE has the characteristic to occur as both an overwhelming event (Mitroff, 2004), which further escalate through stages (Turner and Pidgeon, 1997). The case study evaluation has helped to clarify what constitute ME in UAE and their characteristics. It is also evident from the evaluation that contingency planning and all the elements of contingency planning are all lacking in the current practice in the country. However, the purpose of Table 3.1 (below) is to evaluate the global best practice that may be practiced in the UAE current emergency management system, using the indicators

69

from section 2.6 to evaluate the current practices. Table 2.7 illustrates the contrast between case study of ME in Japan, UK and US discussed in Chapter Two and that of events occurring in the UAE examined in this Chapter. The table below helps to identify area that require improvement and that of limitation in the UAE system.

Table 2.7: Contrast and Comparison between learning mechanisms and ME in Japan, US, UK and UAE

Country Nature of ME Lessons learned Learning mechanism(s) Japan Complex disaster starting with earthquake, tsunami and then nuclear meltdown

Assessing history of past tsunamis in Japan so that information can be used to improve planning and prediction and response to future earthquake & tsunami risks in the country (Oskin, 2015)

Remembering the past through intentional means and utilizing the past lessons through cognitive and political support as enabling factor for

improving future planning and response US Multiple highway accidents caused by heavy fog, snow, dust storm, floods, heavy rainfall etc.

Preventive measures are taken by government to put traffic signs, restrict movement during bad weather, road surface marking & signing, and road safety

improvement, while individuals are held liable financially for the consequences of accidents, property damage and injuries to passengers, drivers and fatalities (Copeland and Overberg, 2015)

Learning are still ongoing, but mechanism for learning are; utilising past lessons & using intentional and political factors to provide preventive measures for future multiple collision. Individuals are also held responsible for impacts of accidents as enabling factors to prevent future accidents. UK Unpredicted, heavy rainfall that caused widespread damage to water, electricity & livelihood

Conducting an independent public review led by Sir Michael Pitts to identify lessons and use lessons to change policies and measures for flood and emergency management in UK. 92 recommendations were made by The Pitts Review (2008) as pre-plan measures rather than ad-hoc.

Lessons are learned by utilizing the past through cognitive and political mechanisms for improving planning for future floods emergencies NZ Unprecedented earthquake, several aftershocks and liquefaction

Conducted investigation into lessons learned and documented by McLean et al. (2012). 5 major recommendations were made, response framework and manual were made and reviewed to include lessons learned, education

Lessons learned by

remembering and utilising lessons through intentional, cognitive, political and enabling mechanisms.

70

and training courses for national incident controllers to ensure that lessons learned are used for dealing with future MEs. UAE Multiple vehicle accidents caused by bad weather such as fog and heavy unprecedented rainfall

UAE government acquired more equipment, and developed national response framework (Bell et al., 2014)

Lessons have been driven by political or governmental factors without any reference to lessons learned from past ME

Table 2.7 compares and contrasts practices from Japan, US, UK and NZ (from chapter two) which show that these three countries have demonstrated ability to learn lessons by directly using information from past incidents that caused severe disruption to ensure better planning and prevention. As noticed in Table 2.7., the focus is not on response arrangement, but from planning arrangement that informs the response procedure to ME. However, according to literature and documents on the case studies evaluated in this chapter, UAE current practice made no link between using lessons from past ME to influence planning for future emergencies. Therefore, this gap and ones identified directly when evaluating the case studies emphasize the importance and relevance of this research especially in the UAE context and the need for recommendations which can guide the planning and response process for future ME. It also influences the types of questions that needed to be asked during the primary data collection process which are presented and analysed in chapter five. Thus, the next section outlines and examines possible challenges associated with dealing with ME, the barriers they cause for learning lessons and the drivers which can make lessons more “learnable”, so that lessons can be applied for contingency planning in view of managing future ME.