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We provide comprehensive evacuation plans as one of our core services. Whilst utilised throughout our areas of operation, the development and implementation of evacuation plans have become especially important to projects in Mozambique due to the ongoing insurgency in the north of the country.
Once we are appointed, our first step is to perform a Security Risk Assessment to identify the risks to a project. This also involves a physical inspection of a site to determine the direct threat against the site, the proximity of nearby villages, any security force deployments as well as the attitude of the local nationals towards the project in addition to other pertinent security factors.
From the Security Risk Assessment we compile a Security Plan, in which we provide the client with a detailed layout of the approach to security, what is required and how the security should be managed. Part of the development of security plans entails the development of Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) – or assessments thereof if in place, Crisis Management Plans (CMPs) and Evacuation Plans.
The Evacuation Plan describes the Security Risk Stages (Level 1 to 6) in order to provide trigger points to move from one level to another and provides the actions to follow during each stage. The Crisis Management Team (CMT) is addressed regarding its roles and functions.
Next, a Road Threat Assessment is completed to determine the condition of the road, safe havens along the way, refuelling stations, medical facilities, and time to travel to the end destination. The roads are physically driven with at least three possible route options being identified. Routes are depicted and described in detail, and safe havens are identified. In addition, air and sea evacuations are considered where possible. All route options are collated and analysed with all findings as recommendations reported in the Evacuation Plan.
Focus Group also assists with the physical implementation of an Evacuation Plan. The CMT is appointed whereby roles and responsibilities are delineated. Wardens are appointed and trained by one of our Security Managers.
Drivers are allocated specific vehicles and passengers ahead of any evacuation and are provided with instructions to ensure that the vehicle is always at the ready, factors such as fuel never dropping below 50%, spare wheel is present and correctly inflated, emergency water is onboard, etc.
Most importantly, we conduct proper training and rehearsals of the Evacuation Plan with all involved members. The full evacuation is rehearsed from start to finish against the clock to ensure that the plan is executed efficiently to minimise risk as effectively as possible. Rehearsals occur regularly at the beginning of the project and are later scaled down to once every two weeks to maintain efficiency.
Furthermore, Standard Operating Procedures are rehearsed on a weekly basis and the local CMT meets at least once a month discuss all plans, evaluate routes on the current security situation and ensure that all are kept abreast on the security situation and the necessary actions to follow. Any gaps or inefficiencies are identified and rectified, ensuring that the Evacuation Plan will always be ready to activate at a moment’s notice.