Emergency Plannin
What Is Emergency Planning?
Emergency Planning is a key local authority function which manages the response to a major incident. It is a partnership of local authorities, emergency services, non-emergency services, Government departments and voluntary organisations likely to have a role in responding to emergencies. Most emergency arrangements also recognise the vital role of the local community in helping itself recover from the adverse effects of an emergency.
What is a Major Emergency?
The introduction of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and associated statutory Regulations and Guidance came into force on 14 November 2005. This forms the background to Emergency Planning.
An 'Emergency' is defined in Part 1 of the Civil Contingencies Act as:
"An event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the United Kingdom, the environment of a place in the UK, or war or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the security of the UK".
Every day the emergency services are called to deal with circumstances which require the use of their knowledge and skills to safeguard life and property. Occasionally an incident occurs that, by its nature and size, will need the additional specialist services of other agencies including the County and District Councils, the Health Authorities and voluntary organisations.
An incident of this kind is known as a major emergency and has to be declared as such by a Category 1 responder.
Major emergencies can occur in a number of ways, some of the more common being:-
- Severe weather
- Natural disaster
- Industrial accidents
- Transport accidents
- Terrorism
North Dorset District Council’s Role
With the introduction of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 North Dorset District Council became a Category 1 responder. This imposed a number of responsibilities on the Council including:
- Assessing local risks
- Creating an emergency plan
- Putting in place business continuity management arrangements
- Putting in place arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public in the event of an emergency
- Sharing information with other local services to enhance co-ordination;
- Co-operating with other local services to enhance co-ordination and efficiency
- Providing advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about business continuity management
In liaison with the Dorset County Council, the Council develops and maintains plans to meet the District Council´s emergency planning responsibilities to provide prompt and effective assistance to local people should a major incident or emergency occur within or affecting the District.
Business Continuity
One of the responsibilities under the Act requires the Council to put in place business continuity management arrangements. The Council has now produced a draft Business Continuity Plan, this will form part of the managment arrangements and be maintained as a comprehensive Plan, This will enable the council to continue to provide its critical services to the public, as far as is reasonably practicable, whilst affected by or dealing with an 'Emergency'.
Other information can be found via the links below:
www.ukresilience.info/ccact/index/htm
www.gosw.gov.uk/gosw/emergencies
www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/
www.saferdorset.co.uk/dlrf/
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