The ask
In February 2025, Tropical Cyclone Zelia, a Category 4 system, was forecast to impact Western Australia’s Pilbara region, bringing risk to the McPhee Creek mine site.
HanRoy engaged Executive Risk Solutions (ERS) to provide on-ground advisory support to the site’s Incident Response Team (IMT) with a view to enhancing preparedness, providing real-time guidance, and ensuring alignment with the broader Crisis Management Plan (CMP) as the weather event approached.
What we did
A senior ERS Crisis and Emergency Management Adviser was deployed to McPhee Creek for 10 days to provide advice to the Senior Site Executive and Incident Response Team (IMT) Leader as an embedded member of the team. This including advising on:
- Real-time strategic support throughout the cyclone’s lifecycle.
- Informal, on-the-ground coaching to enhance the IMT role, clarity, and cohesion
- Participating in field assessments to monitor river levels and access conditions
- Guidance during daily briefings and use of tools such as PEARL and status boards
- Aligning communication across contractors, site teams, and the CMT
- Reviewing and refining of the Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and duty cards
- Recommendations to align with national emergency doctrine, including AIIMS 2017
What we achieved
As a result of the ERS engagement, the McPhee Site significantly strengthened its crisis resilience, delivering measurable improvements:
- IMT fully activated and operational within 48 hours of deployment
- 100% evacuation of non-essential personnel completed safely
- Consistent daily briefings reinforcing a shared Common Operating Picture
- Refined ERP and duty card templates tailored to site-specific operations
- Recovery considerations built into the planning process ahead of landfall
- IMT members and contractors engaged in collaborative training and support.
Results
Improved collaboration and shared vision during emergency
Embedded support resulted in improved safety and resilience at the site
Further enhancements to the process recognised for future scenarios
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