What is the Emergency Planning / Resilience Unit responsible for?
The Emergency Planning Section is responsible for preparing, maintaining and updating the Emergency Plans, which set out the Cumbria response to major emergencies or disasters that may affect the area. The plans comply with Home Office guidelines and take into account the needs of the emergency services (Police, Fire, Ambulance and Coastguard), Cumbrian residents, the Voluntary Sector, Utility Companies (Gas, electricity, water and telephone providers) and neighbouring local authorities.
What is a Major Disaster for Cumbria?
A serious disruption to life, arising with little or no warning, causing or threatening death or serious injury to, or rendering homeless, such numbers of people in excess of those which can be dealt with by the local authority, or other public services, operating under normal procedures and which calls for the special mobilisation and organisation of those services.
What is the role of the Cumbrian Local Authorities in a Major Disaster?
When dealing with a disaster, Cumbrian Local Authorities will:
Alert and call into action the appropriate Council service
Co-ordinate all council services involved in dealing with the disaster
Provide personnel and equipment
Provide and co-ordinate any additional resources required from the council or other agencies (while still seeking to maintain a good level of ongoing council services).
What are the aims of all the services when dealing with a major disaster?
The common aims for all the services involved are as follows:
Save lives
Prevent the disaster escalating
Relieve suffering
Safeguard the environment
Protect property
Assist with criminal, judicial, public, technical or other inquiries
Restore a normal situation as soon as possible
The main aims for the local authority officers are to:
Support the emergency services
Support and care for affected people and help them to return to living normal lives in the community
Restore the environment
What is the role of the emergency services in a major disaster?
The Police: The Police take overall control and co-ordination of those at and around the incident scene. They establish cordons where possible, carry out criminal investigations and help to deal with enquiries by other agencies, such as the Health and Safety Executive and Air Accident Investigation Branch. The Police also control access to the scene of terrorist incidents.
The Fire Service: The Fire Service is responsible for rescue work, extinguishing fires and dealing with dangerous chemicals or substances. They help the ambulance service with casualties and the Police to recover bodies. The Fire Service is responsible for the health and safety of staff from all the agencies working within the inner cordon at the scene of an incident and for liaising with the Police about access to the site (except for terrorist incidents).
The Ambulance Service: The Ambulance Service is responsible for co-ordinating health services at the scene of an incident. This includes providing supportive treatment and sufficient ambulances, staff and equipment to evacuate casualties from the scene to treatment centres. Those with serious injuries are evacuated first.
Who is responsible when river flooding occurs?
The Environment Agency is responsible for the maintenance of "main rivers and strategic streams". For non "main rivers" and streams the responsibility for their maintenance and the removal of obstructions etc. lies with the owners of the land adjacent to the water course. Where a stream passes through a culvert underneath a highway for which Cumbria County Council is the highway authority, then the Council is the responsible authority for the watercourse.
The use of sandbags?
Sandbags will not stop water from entering your property but can be used to help divert water flow away. There are two sandbag types - hessian sacking, or polypropylene. The hessian bags should be stored empty, in a dry place and should be filled just before they are required. When properly stacked these are the most efficient at stopping water, however they tend to decay once filled with sand. Polypropylene sandbags are more durable when filled but may be slightly less efficient in their application.
Not all Local authorities are able to provide sandbags and it is best to consult regarding this prior to the event.
Sandbags may be purchased from builders merchants and DIY stores, whose details can be found in the local telephone directory.
Alternatively, if your home is at risk from flooding, you might consider more secure forms of protection such as flood gates. Information on these can be obtained from the Environment Agency or the National Flood Forum. Your local builders merchant or DIY store may also be able to assist you.
What is the latest information on Avian Flu virus?
This is the latest information from the Health & Safety Executive on the Avian Influenza Virus:
It includes advice for people working with poultry on avoiding the risk of infection, guidance for lab workers and advice for health care workers. http://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/diseases/avianflu.htm (external link)
The latest advice from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/index.htm (external link)
What is the latest advice and information from the Department of Health on pandemic influenza?
Here you can find the contingency plan, and information and resources for health professionals and the public on pandemic influenza. The plan has been produced to ensure that the Government, public and NHS are properly prepared in the event of a flu pandemic. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/PandemicFlu/index.htm (external link)
Business Continuity
Please look at our Business Continuity pages
