Management and coordination bodies

The Government crisis management plan in the event of extreme weather and flooding determines the following management bodies for meteorological or hydrological  related emergencies.

Weather-Flood Risk Evaluation Unit (Cellule d’évaluation des risques intempéries-inondations, CERI)

The body responsible for assessing the risk of severe weather/flooding is convened by the HCPN when an orange or red alert or warning level or a purple alarm level is announced or triggered.

Its tasks are:

• monitor the evolution of the meteorological and hydrological situation;
• analyse the possible impacts of weather phenomena on the environment, the population and the territory;
• anticipate, coordinate and prepare crisis communication

The HCPN's duty service draws up a summary report setting out the measures taken and decisions made. The CERI is convened by the HCPN. It is composed of representatives of the government plan, i.e. representatives of the AGE, the CGDIS, MeteoLux and the HCPN.

If necessary, the CERI may be assisted by a representative of the Road and Bridge Authority (PCH) or another expert with specialist knowledge in the area affected by the situation. 

Crisis Cell (Cellule de crise)

Based on the information reported to him by the CERI, the Prime Minister may determine that a crisis situation is present.

The decision to activate the Crisis Unit (CC), which is one of the mechanisms designed to manage this type of situation, is the responsibility of the Prime Minister or his delegate. The members of the CC are convened by the HCPN.

The CC is composed of representatives from the relevant ministries, administrations and departments concerned, depending on the nature and scale of the crisis. It must be chaired by a member of the Government.

Under the authority of the Government, the Crisis Unit initiates, coordinates and oversees the implementation of all measures intended to address the crisis and its effects, and to work towards a return to normalcy.

Joint Operational Command Post (Poste de commandement opérationnel commun, PCO-C)

A Joint Operational Command Post (PCO-C) is composed of representatives from entities operating on the ground, such as the CGDIS, the Army, the Grand Ducal Police (PGD) and a representative of the National Roads Administration (Administration des Ponts et Chaussées), as well as representatives from entities responsible for assessing meteorological and hydrological projections. Depending on the entities involved on the ground, the PCO-C may be expanded to include other representatives.

The PCO-C is chaired by an official from the HCPN or, alternatively, by an official from the CGDIS. It is tasked with the coordination and operational monitoring of actions carried out by tactical officials on the ground, in order to ensure that the strategic objectives set by the crisis unit (CC) are achieved. The PCO-C organises the liaison between the event sites and the CC, analysing the meteorological and hydrological situation, the impact on the ground and the needs for means and resources, with the help of experts from the assessment unit (CERI). It ensures that the actions of the various services, administrations and operators achieve the defined strategic objectives and that the decisions taken are implemented effectively.

The representatives at the PCO-C pass on the necessary instructions to their department, administration or service, and ensure their execution based on information from the ground and feedback from experts.Weather Risk Evaluation Cell (CERI)

Advanced Command Post(s) (Poste(s) de commandement avancé(s), PCA)

The Advanced Command Post(s)(PCA) ensure the liaison between the event site(s) and the PCO-C. Each PCA is headed by the emergency operations commander (Commandant des opérations de secours, COS), who is designated by the Director General of the CGDIS.

The PCA can be activated independently of the CC by the person who is in charge of the operational management of the incident and directs the action of the other contributing bodies.

The PCA’s mission is to direct all the operations on the ground, to centralise and make use of information, and request and distribute the necessary backup. The PCA reports on the performance of its mission to the PCO-C.

The PCA includes at least one representative of each service engaged in operations on the ground. Depending on the response plans, representatives of the municipalities, services and companies concerned by the event may also be included in the PCA.

Communication/Information Cell (CCI)

The CCI is in charge of communication and providing information for the media and citizens. The horizontal coordination and organisation of external communication falls to the Office for crisis communication.