Preparing for a major incident
We're expected to have contingency plans which set out the steps that will be taken to initiate, control and co-ordinate its response to a major disaster and the areas of activity.
Our responsibilities during a major incident are to maintain our existing services to the community, to provide support to the emergency services and to take the lead in organising the restoration to normality. Experience elsewhere has shown that a council's involvement in any major incident will usually be the longest of all the organisations involved and may be prolonged and extensive.
How we've prepared
Our preparations for its response to a major incident are contained in its Emergency Response and Recovery Plan which is subject to continual review and amendment. Our emergency planning entails continuing consultation and collaboration with the emergency services and those voluntary agencies that might be concerned in responding to a major incident.
We work towards:
- Maintaining statutory services at an appropriate level
- Supporting the emergency services and other organisations involved in the immediate response
- Providing support services for the community and others affected by the incident
- Enabling the community to recover and return to normality as fast as possible
- Providing ‘mutual aid' to other local authorities as requested