Simulating a reservoir on-site flood plan test: Operation Redbrook

The Canal and River Trust, undertaker for 71 high-risk reservoirs, has developed a schedule to conduct a desktop test annually and a full incident simulation exercise every five years. The paper covers the methodology for developing the desktop test, integrating international best practices and strategies from other industries. Practical insights for effectively conducting a desktop exercise, ranging from the selection of failure mode scenarios to debriefings, are provided. The importance of a full simulation was highlighted following the Toddbrook incident. The paper describes how to organise a simulation exercise and the considerations for selecting a suitable reservoir, based on access, location, stakeholders, failure mode and risk assessments on the backdrop of ‘Operation Redbrook’ conducted in June 2023. Pre-exercise arrangements include failure mode simulation, welfare, weather warnings, media responses and traffic management. The Trust also engaged the Local Resilience Forum, BT Emergency services and the contractor's supply chain. The challenges faced by contractors in deploying emergency pumps raise questions on proportionality of expenditure for crane pads, assessments for utilities, environmental impacts and traffic management. Strategies to disseminate lessons learnt and continuous improvement of the emergency response system within the Trust are covered.