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The site of an emergency

CP-Ops set up in a street
In order for the assistance to run smoothly, it is important that everyone knows where they should be and who the other people on the site are. That is why there are clear agreements on the organisation of the disaster area.

Areas

The site of an emergency is always divided into intervention areas. These differ from emergency planning zones:

  • Intervention areas are those applicable at the time of the emergency. An evaluation of the situation at the time of the emergency (e.g. wind direction, number of inhabitants, type of incident) will determine the intervention area.
  • Emergency planning zones are areas as they appear in an emergency plan. They are areas in which the various authorities and emergency services prepare preventive protection measures.

There are three types of intervention areas:

  • The red zone (exclusion perimeter) or first aid area is exclusively for the emergency services necessary for the intervention. Residents in this area will either be evacuated or must follow specific guidelines (e.g. close windows and doors).
  • The orange zone (isolation perimeter) is where the support for the intervention services is found. This is usually also where the Operational Command Post is located. Residents and employees in this area will receive appropriate guidelines.
  • In the yellow zone (dissuasion perimeter) , the necessary actions are taken to guarantee access to the emergency services and a smooth intervention, e.g. by rerouting traffic or keeping out disaster tourists.

Discipline 3 is tasked with monitoring these areas.

Recognisability on site

Each discipline has its own colour. The people responsible for the various disciplines always wear a vest in the same colour. That way, everyone can always recognise them.

  • Discipline 1: red
  • Discipline 2: green
  • Discipline 3: blue
  • Discipline 4: orange
  • Discipline 5: black