Emergency Planning in Worcestershire

Local Authorities have a major role to play in the response to any emergency.

We have a variety of roles to fill when responding to an emergency, both in support of our partners in the Emergency and other Services and in our role in community leadership. In order to get the most from the resources we have for this work and to ensure that all the citizens of Worcestershire receive the best possible help from their local authorities,we always work closely with our partners.

The County Council and all six District Councils have signed up to a Memorandum of Understanding under which the small specialised team of Emergency Planners at the County Council support the District Councils, as well as all the Directorates in the County Council, in their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act. This helps to deliver a unified local authority preparedness and response capability to a major emergency incident.

Besides this internal work in the Local Authorities, the team is involved in a lot of work with other Agencies – the Environment Agency on flooding and pollution problems, Emergency Services on all types of problems, the Coroner in the provision of temporary mortuary facilities, should we ever need such a facility, Health Authorities on mass inoculations and crowd safety at designated sports grounds amongst many others.

What does this mean in practice?

During the immediate response to an emergency, the Police will usually take a lead in co-ordinating the response and the local authorities may be called on to provide many different services in support of this response. Rest Centres and temporary housing for those who have to be evacuated from their homes, road closures and diversions, social and psychological support, advice on building safety, environmental health problems and much more are regularly asked for and provided.

As the emphasis moves from response to recovery, the local authorities will take the lead in caring for the community involved and restoring the environment.

We also have to work to bring together a wide range of bodies who are not routinely involved in emergency response (e.g. Regional Development Agencies, building proprietors and land owners).

In addition, the local authority will work with partners to meet the longer-term welfare needs of survivors (e.g. social services support and financial assistance from appeal funds) and the community (e.g. anniversaries and memorials, helplines and drop-in centres).

The roles and responsibilities of Emergency Planning Units

With regard to the Civil Contingencies Act(2004) the Emergency Planning Unit (EPU) has the following responsibilities:

To co-operate with statutory partner agencies  
With regards to emergencies the Local Resilience Forum (which includes the EPU) has a responsibility to ensure multi-agency co-operation.

To share Information with partner agencies
Partner Agencies (known as Category 1 or Category 2 emergency responders) have a duty to share information; the EPU assists with this process.

To assess Risks
The multi-agency Local Resilience Forum produces, publishes and maintains a Community Risk Register. This register identifies the risks within the ‘community’ and ensures that local responders make contingency arrangements that reflect, and are relevant to local risks. The EPU is an integral part of this process.

Emergency Planning
Emergency plans are maintained to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, Worcestershire County Council can continue to deliver its services. Alongside this the Council engages in training and exercises both individually and with other Agencies, to guarantee they are fully prepared.

Informing and Educating the Public
A well-informed community is likely to respond better in an emergency, and consequently minimise the impact of an event on the community. The EPU has a duty to warn, inform and advise the public about emergencies. The Unit carries out this role through activities such as producing topical newsletters, and disseminating information on the website.

The BBC’s connecting in a crisishighlights their ability to deliver accurate and speedy public information prior to, during, and following a disaster/incident. The BBC can offer a range of communication outlets at local, regional and national level.

Business Continuity Planning
1. Plans must be drawn up by Category 1 responders (including Worcestershire County Council) to ensure that they are able to deliver services both during and after an emergency. The EPU is co-ordinating this planning for the County Council.

2. Promotion of business continuity planning to local businesses and voluntary agencies.

Other legislation applicable to the Emergency Planning Unit

Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999
Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996
Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001
Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975
Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sport Act 1987
The Safety of Sports Grounds Regulations 1987