Emergency Planning
The Emergency Planning Service is responsible for the co-ordination of the Council's response to Major Incidents and Crisis.
For further information, click on any of the subjects below :
David Cook
Borough Secretary
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council
Council Offices
Wallace Green
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD15 1ED
(01289) 301716
email : dc@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk
Ian Clough
County Emergency Planning Officer
Northumberland County Council
Fire and Rescue HQ
Loansdean
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2ED
Tel : 01670 533000
Fax : 01670 534620
** July 7th Bombings ** For people affected by the London Bombings on 7th July 2005, help, support and practical advice and assistance is available at www.7julyassistance.org.uk. The organisation also runs a 24 hour helpline and assistance centre in London.
What is Emergency Planning? <back to top>
Accidents, whether human or natural, occur from time to time. They can occur on a small or large scale - a transport disaster, chemical incident, coastal flooding or a terrorist attack, and of course there is always the unexpected. The aim of the Council’s Emergency Planning Service is to assess the threats and risks to the Borough and plan for the response and recovery should an incident occur. The ultimate objective is to minimise impact of disaster on the day-to-day lives of the community and the environment and to assist the return to normality. Emergency planners, working with a wide range of other agencies, prepare contingency plans, organise major incident training and exercises to prepare for emergencies, just in case. Whatever the incident, the role of the Council is always to provide support and care to the community and to get things back to normality as soon as possible.
In addition to this service to the people of the Borough, it is also incumbent on the Council to have plans in place to ensure its own survival - either from an internal disaster or from the effects of an external one, in order that it can continue to deliver the services needed to the public. The Emergency Planning Service is very much involved with the work of Business and Continuity planning.
The Council’s Emergency Planning Service <back to top>
The Council’s Emergency Planning Service provides advice and guidance on emergency planning issues, in planning and preparing for the Council's response to a major incident and in meeting its statutory obligations under emergency planning legislation.
The role of Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council is to support the emergency services in the initial stages of a disaster. This may include the opening up of rest centres, providing transport for evacuation or identifying vulnerable people who may have special needs or concerns. Once the immediate threat to life and property has passed, the Council's role is to assist with helping the community to recovery. This often involves dealing with both the physical scars and the psychological ones, from the re-building of houses or schools to assisting in the re-building of people's lives.
Throughout all of this Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council has to maintain its own services to the community by having plans to deal with it's own departments’ response to a disaster.
The Emergency Planning Service is led by David Cook, Borough Secretary. The Council is a member of a seven-strong (Alnwick, Blyth Valley, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale, Wansbeck and Northumberland County Council) group of local authorities who share resources, good practice and advice and guidance under a joint working protocol. This Joint Working Arrangement with the neighbouring authorities provides a breadth and depth of experience and brings many 'economies of scale'. It also ensures continuity of service for emergency planning in the Borough.
Northumberland County Council’s Emergency Planning Unit is responsible for overseeing the emergency preparedness of the County Council and assisting with the preparedness of the Borough and District Councils which make up the group of seven local authorities. The Unit has recently been absorbed by the Fire and Rescue Service.
Contact details for Northumberland County Council Emergency Planning Unit are set out below :
Ian Clough
County Emergency Planning Officer
Northumberland County Council
Fire and Rescue HQ
Loansdean
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2ED
Tel : 01670 533000
Fax : 01670 534620
Local Government in Partnership with Emergency Planning <back to top>
Emergency planning in the North East region is co-ordinated through a multi-agency group known as the Northumberland Local Resilience Forum (NLRF). This group comprises of representatives from all the Category 1 responders as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and includes the emergency services, local authorities, military and utility providers.
The NLRF receives direction from a Regional Resilience Forum which comprises the most senior officials of member organisations.
Emergency Planning – Major Incidents <back to top>
A major incident is often defined as:
"any event or circumstance (happening with or without warning) that causes or threatens death or injury, disruption to the community, or damage to property or to the environment on such a scale that the effects cannot be dealt with by the emergency services, local authorities and other organisations as part of their normal day to day activities."
It can be further defined as :
Any emergency that requires the implementation of special arrangements by one or all of the emergency services for:
- the rescue and transportation of large numbers of casualties
- the involvement, either directly or indirectly, of a large number of people
- the handling of large numbers of enquiries likely to be generated both from the public and news media, usually to the Police
- any incident that requires the large scale combined resources of the three emergency services
- an incident that threatens death, serious injury or homelessness to such a large number of people that special mobilisation and organisation of the emergency services and supporting organisations, e.g. Local Authorities, is necessary.
It is widely recognised that local authorities have a key support role when a major incident arises. This is reflected in their statutory responsibilities and in the requirement to publish a Major Incident Plan.
The purpose of a Major Incident Plan is to provide guidance to Council Officers and individual service units on the various procedures and actions that will be put in place in the event of a major incident or emergency.
More specifically, the Plan seeks to address the following objectives:
1. To clarify what a Major Incident is and the stages that are likely to occur during an emergency.
2. To highlight the roles and responsibilities of those who are likely to be involved in responding to a Major Incident.
3. To detail the Council's corporate response to an emergency and more specifically, the role of its service units and certain key players within the organisation.
4. To identify the necessary co-ordination with external agencies involved with a Major Incident.
5. To clarify the communications systems and resources that are available in the event of a Major Incident.
Emergency Planning – Council Response <back to top>
The Council’s response to an emergency/major incident is documented in the Major Incident Plan. The Council’s own Plan is currently being revised but will be published on this website when completed.
This plan provides the framework and response structure that the Council will use to respond to the incident. It provides for the way in which we will be informed about the incident, co-ordinate, cascade the information tour service areas and partners and how we will liaise with outside agencies involved in the incident.
Our role falls into a number of areas :-
- supporting the response by Emergency Services
- providing for the welfare of persons affected by the emergency
- managing the Recovery phases of the incident
All this must be done whilst maintaining essential services and carrying out our statutory functions.
The Council’s response will be managed by an Emergency Operations Centre, a specialised control room which liaises with the Control Centres of other agencies involved in the incident, and ensures that the responses of the Council is managed appropriately.
The Emergency Planning Service liaises with colleagues at Northumberland County Council to provide training for council staff which prepares them for their incident roles and ensures that they are familiar with the Major Incident Plan.
Emergency Planning - Business Continuity <back to top>
Business Continuity
Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council is committed to promoting Business Continuity.
What is Business Continuity?
Business Continuity is a planning process which provides a framework for ensuring resilience of your business to threats and challenges. This approach will help you to ensure that key customers, your brand, reputation and key suppliers are maintained , as well as your long term survivability.
Business Continuity needs to be considered by small companies and organisations as well as larger corporations. Incidents and disasters can have catastrophic effects on businesses and the threats can come from incidents originating through accidents, criminal activity or natural disasters.
Nearly 1 in 5 businesses suffer a major disruption every year.
How is the Council tackling business continuity?
The Council’s own Emergency Plan and Business Continuity Planning are complimentary, eg :
- The Emergency Plan is principally concerned with an event that affects the community as a whole, such as a major flood, fire or gas leak
- Business Continuity Planning on the other hand, is concerned with ensuring that the Council is able to continue to provide services even though an incident occurs which has a significant impact on the way it goes about its’ business.
- It is important to understand that the rigid structures for command and control which apply to traditional emergency planning procedures will not necessarily work during a business continuity crisis, the key to which will be flexible use of staff and other resources.
The following list sets out the type of event which could trigger a business continuity crisis :
- Avian bird flu pandemic
- Failure of business critical projects
- Terrorism, kidnap or extortion
- Failure of critical suppliers, distributor or other 3 rd party
- Floods or storms
- Technical or environmental failure
- Power failure
- Failure of procedures or systems
- Fraud or sabotage
- Loss of key personnel or essential premises
- Adverse publicity
- Civil disorder
The Council is currently working on its business continuity management arrangements. Critical business functions have been identified and officers will shortly be undertaking a business impact analysis before preparing business continuity plans for each critical service area. These plans will be tested once completed.
The work outlined above will focus on a number of key themes:
- Identification of those services which must continue within the first 7 days/2 weeks/month/3 months following an incident that disrupts normal operations
- The minimum level of resources (staff, accommodation, IT, telephones etc) needed to deliver those services
- Details of key contacts (both internal and external) and their role in such an emergency
- A register of staff in each Unit, including contact details
What advice is there for private business and voluntary organisations on business continuity planning?
Business Continuity should become part of the way you perform
business. It is better to plan for incidents, which may affect your
business, rather than having to "catch up" when a problem occurs.
Five Steps to Continuity Planning
1. Analyse and assess the risks to your business
2. Cultural Change Cultural change
3. Define your business continuity strategy
4. Develop your plan
5. Rehearse your plan
1. Analyse and assess the risks to your business
Consider for each site
If your organisation operates over multiple sites, then each site will need a separate continuity plan of its own, based on the same principles.
Where is your business vulnerable?
Following the analysis of your business processes formulate a list of where your business is vulnerable.
- Property Suppliers
- Human Resources
- Systems
- Processes
- Timescales
- Technology
Consider for each of your Departments
How essential is the department's work to the overall performance of the business on a day to day basis.
For each department :
- What equipment, IT and other systems does the department need
- to be able to function appropriately
- Who does this department depend on to carry out their work
- Which other departments depend on this department
- Who in the department is essential
- Are there any service level agreements, legal or regulatory
- obligations on the department
- Do they already have business continuity and emergency plans in
- existence
- How long can the department cease to operate before catastrophic
- failure of your business: hours / days / weeks
Are there any natural fluctuations of operational activity e.g. Month-end for payroll dept., or end of year for Accounts dept?
Risks
To identify risk you must look at the vulnerable areas of your business, as well as considering some of the more generic "what if" scenarios e.g. What if the power failed; what if a virus wiped out your IT system. Look for single points of failure in your technology or processes.
The essential part of Risk Assessment is that you ask three simple questions for each risk that you identify:-
- How likely is it to happen?
- What effect will it have on your business?
- What factors can reduce the likelihood or effect or mitigate the risk entirely?
Always try to consider the worst case scenario when carrying out your risk assessment. This will mean that less serious incidents will be easier to manage.
2. Cultural Change
It is essential to have the active support of the senior team in your organisation. It is possible that during your planning you will have the opportunity to convince your staff of the importance of Business
Continuity Management and promote the concept internally and externally.
With this approach Business Continuity becomes the normal process of day to
day activity.
Business Continuity must be included in the preparation of new contracts, partnerships and business processes.
It is every manager's responsibility to ensure Business Continuity is an integral part of their normal business activity.
3. Define your Business Continuity Strategy
Most likely the board will consider the options for continuity which will
often be one of the following strategies :
1. Accept the risks and change nothing
2. Accept the risks, but make a mutual arrangement with another business (competitor / Business Continuity Specialist) for help
3. Attempt to reduce the risks
4. Attempt to reduce the risks and make arrangements for help after an incident as in 2
5. Reduce all risks to the point where you should not need outside help
All of these approaches will still need a detailed plan to outline the arrangements for the incident.
You will also need to consider how quickly recovery will need to occur for the strategic areas of your business or various departments. It may be useful to draw a chart of the timescales involved in re-establishing certain functions.
One essential decision is how you respond to risks that cannot be reduced.
Example
The risk of an incident causing the loss of a building and how to establish your operations at another location.
Responses could be :
1. I have an agreement with another local organisation in the area for mutual assistance
2. Arrange temporary accommodation (a "cold site" )
3. Agreement for immediate accommodation at a specialist facility ("a hot site").
4. Develop your plan
Your business continuity plan should contain the key areas as listed below. This is not an exhaustive list and you may find other key pieces of information that may be required as part of your strategy.
Items to include
Roles and responsibilities
Make it clear who needs to do what, and who takes responsibility for each action. Always include deputies to cover key roles. Identify a Recovery Team and a Co-ordinator.
Incident Checklists for key staff
Use checklists that readers can follow easily.
First Stage
Include clear, direct instructions or checklist for the crucial first hour
or so after an incident.
Following Stages
Include a checklist list of things that can wait until after the first hour.
Document Review
Agree how often, when and how you will check your plan to make sure it is still current. Update your plan to reflect changes in your organisation's personnel and in the risks you might face.
Plan for worst-case scenarios. If your plan covers how to get back in business if a flood destroys your building, it will also work if only one floor is flooded.
Information from outside your business
Consider getting specialist information on the roles of other organisations that may be involved in the emergency such as :
Landlord
If you rent your business space - find out what plans and assistance your landlord or management company may be able to provide.
Neighbouring businesses
Nearby businesses may be affected, but you may still be able to help each other.
Utility companies
Telephone, electricity, water, gas. Find out what they will need to know and their emergency supply procedures and targets.
Your Insurance Company
What information do they need from you? Do you need their permission to replace damaged critical equipment immediately. Will the existence of a Plan reduce your premiums? They may also be able to give you advice.
Suppliers and customers
How will you contact them to tell them you have been affected by an incident, and what their critical timescales are. They will be affected by your decisions, so involve them if you can and they may be reassured by your planning process.
Emergency Planning Officer
Find out what your local authority would do in response to a major incident.
Emergency services
What information will the emergency services require from you. How can you help them by ensuring access routes, and providing information (key holders etc).
Points to remember
Make your plan usable. Don't include information that will be irrelevant or can be accessed in other places. Use existing organisational roles and responsibilities and build on them in the plan.
Specify the escalation of the plan. Who decides when to invoke the special arrangements and who manages the process. How will the stand-down process be managed.
5. Rehearse your plan
Testing and rehearsing your plan is one of the fundamental parts of contingency planning. It gives you an opportunity to test the arrangements and principles of the plan in a "safe" environment, without risk to the business.
There are various levels of rehearsal or evaluation which can be used. They will obviously vary with cost and value. However, a planning lifecycle should allow for periodic tests of different types.
Table Top Exercise
Test your plan using a ‘what if?’ written scenario. New pieces of information can be added as the scenario unfolds, in the same way that more details would become clear in a real incident.
Communications Test
With or without warning, a test message is sent out to everyone at the top of the call cascade lists in the plan(s). An audit can then take place on how well the information was communicated through your organization.
Full rehearsal
A full rehearsal will show how well different elements in your plan work together, which may not have become clear when you tested the individual parts. However, this can be an expensive way to test your plan.
What should you do next?
If you have been inspired to consider developing a Continuity Plan for your business, start immediately.
Write yourself a realistic action plan based on the five steps outlined earlier.
Be realistic about timescales, and consider getting colleagues involved. Get the support of both Senior Managers, Directors, Shareholders and Staff, only a team effort will succeed.
What have you got to lose?
If you don't have a Business Continuity Plan, you may be at risk of losing work to competitors, being exposed to failures in your supply chain, suffer loss of reputation and higher insurance premiums.
Business Continuity affects everyone: customers, staff, the community and ultimately the economy.
Be prepared, and have a Business Continuity plan.
Further Information
Information on Business Continuity and Emergency Planning can be
found from a variety of sources:-
Business Continuity Institute www.thebci.org
0870 603 8783
Business Continuity Magazine www.kablenet.com/bc
Emergency Planning Society www.emergplansoc.org.uk
0845 600 9587
The Institute of Risk Management www.theirm.org
MI5 Advice www.MI5.gov.uk
There is a specific section on business continuity
Survive Association www.survive.com
UK Resilience www.ukresilience.info
In addition to the list of contacts provided above, one of the most important information sites for advice on business continuity planning is
www.londonprepared.gov.uk (see section entitled “For Business” on the home page)
An excellent booklet published by the Government called “Expecting the Unexpected – Business Continuity in an uncertain world” can be downloaded from www.londonfirst.co.uk/publications/bb-2143.pdf
What is Avian Influenza/Bird Flu? <back to top>
Avian influenza (bird flu) is a disease of birds caused by influenza viruses closely related to human influenza viruses. It is an important disease economically for poultry farmers because of losses in poultry flocks. Transmission to humans in close contact with poultry or other birds occurs rarely and only with some strains of avian influenza. The potential for transformation of avian influenza into a form that both causes severe disease in humans and spreads easily from person to person is a great concern for world health.
The Council is paying close attention to developments through its membership of the Northumberland Local Resilience Forum and contacts with the health services. Whilst there is no need to panic, it has been reported on national news that evidence of the virus antibody has been found in bird populations in Romania and Turkey.
We are developing our business continuity plans to help us to be able to deal with the impact of a bird flu pandemic if and when the threat becomes a reality.
Working with partner organisations, we will also be providing advice and guidance to residents and businesses on how to prepare for pandemic flu. Further details will be posted on this website in due course.
Links :
Emergency Planning - Central Government Public Information Campaign <back to top>
Preparing for emergencies - what you need to know
All 25 million households in the UK received practical advice on how to prepare for a range of emergencies, with the nationwide distribution in September 2004 of a public information booklet.
Called 'Preparing for Emergencies - what you need to know,' the common sense, practical guidance on prevention and planning for situations including major accidents and terrorist attacks has been written jointly by the Government and a wide range of experts including the emergency services, MI5, the Chief Medical Officer and the Emergency Planning Society. The booklet has been developed following extensive research into what sort of advice people would find useful.
The 22-page booklet, which was delivered to every home in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, includes advice on:
· what to do in an emergency
· coping with specific emergencies
· basic first aid
· how to prepare for an emergency
· how you can help prevent a terrorist attack
It also gives examples of the steps that have been taken – by Government and the 'blue light' services - to protect the UK and ensure it is in the best possible position to react and respond to a range of possible emergencies, including acts of terrorism.
You can download the leaflet and get other information by following this link to the :
Preparing for Emergencies website
Emergency Planning – Terrorism <back to top>
Terrorism has now become a major worry for many people following the tragic events at the World Trade Centre in the USA in 2001, and more recently the attacks in Madrid and London.
Terrorism is not new to the UK, as there is a long history of Incidents dating back many years, and terrorism of many types is found all around the world.
Many people are concerned about what will happen in a "terrorist" attack, and many of these fears centre around the potential use of Chemical Agents, Gas or Radioactive materials. This type of attack is termed CBRN by the Responding Agencies ( Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear).
Other, more traditional strategies used by terrorists are well known to us such as Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's), Hijack / hostage taking and use of weapons. The Police should be informed whenever Terrorist activity is suspected, or when warnings are received. Remember to try to note down as many details as possible to pass to the Police, and try not to use electronic devices such as radios or Mobile Phones near any devices. Do not tamper with any suspected devices – get specialist advice from the Police.
The Emergency Services play the largest role in dealing with this type of incident, and as part of the Fire Service "New Dimensions" project there are procedures in place to deal with CBRN Incidents. As with all Major Incidents, the response will involve many organisations and agencies who are used to dealing with each other at real incidents and in Joint Training and Planning.
Guidance, Training and Local Authorities – CBRN Incidents
National Guidance has been published for Local Authorities on dealing with CBRN incidents and how to deal with the aftermath (covering things such as Decontamination of Land and Buildings). Much of this guidance is available in the public domain and available from the UK-Resilience web site. Local Authorities play a supporting role to the Emergency Services in this type of Incident in the initial stages, but will play a major role in the later stages in ensuring a return to normality.
The Emergency Services have purchased new equipment for dealing with this type of Incident and have undertaken extensive training in the response. Local Authorities have included CBRN incidents in our own staff Training and these type of incidents often form the basis of the training exercises that we use.
What should you do in a CBRN attack?
Here are some simple guidelines :
If you were very near a possible radiation or toxic chemical release and you think you may have become contaminated - wait for the emergency services, they will provide decontamination facilities. This will include asking you to remove any contaminated clothing and showering in portable shower units. Replacement clean/dry clothing will be provided.
Points to remember :
• If warned - Go indoors and stay there
• Bring pets inside too
• Close outside doors, windows, air vents
• Turn off fans - hot air heating systems, ventilation, etc.
• Cover all unsealed fresh food
• Listen to your local radio station for further advice
• DON'T go outside until told it is safe to do so
• DON'T try to collect children from school unless instructed to - they will be looked after
• DON'T use rainwater, or eat locally grown vegetables until told they are safe
• DON'T leave the scene or take yourself to hospital if you think you're contaminated
WAIT for specialist advice
Further Information
MI5 Website – The Security Service
Home Office Resilience Web Site
Preparing for Emergencies Website
Emergency Planning - Flooding Contacts <back to top>
The Environment Agency
In England and Wales, the Environment Agency is responsible for building, maintaining and operating flood defences and for flood warning, including issuing warnings to the public. They also provide the Floodline call service.
FLOODLINE: 0845 988188
Floodline provides recorded information on the latest flooding situation in your area, and the Agency's trained operators can offer advice 24 hours a day. You can also use the number to report flooding in an emergency. You may also request a set of Floodline factsheets, which are available in English and seven other languages, as well as in large print, Braille, and on audio cassette.
For further information about Floods, visit the Environment Agency website : www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Under the North East Region section, you will find advice on :
- What to do in a flood
- Current flood warnings
- Flood risk and home insurance
- Your questions answered
- Flood maps which depict the level of flood risk to your home
Emergency Planning - Flooding Advice
In case of flooding: What can you do, what mustn't you do!
Do . . . 
- Stay calm. Don't panic.
- Keep a list of useful numbers to hand e.g. Your local council, the emergency services, your insurance company and Floodline – 0845 988 188
- Check that neighbours or any vulnerable members of your community know about any flood warnings issued.
- Listen to the local radio for up to date news on the flood.
- Have a few sandbags or floodboards prepared to block doorways and airbricks. (Remember to unblock these vents before switching everything back on.)
- Assume that floodwater contains sewage.
- Ensure that you wear gloves when handling affected items.
- Make up a Flood Kit, including a torch, blankets, waterproof and warm clothing, wellingtons, a portable radio and batteries, first aid kit, rubber gloves, food and pet food and key personal documents. Ask the Environment Agency for their card and plastic bag with step-by-step instructions. Keep it upstairs, if possible.
- Talk about possible flooding with your family or those you live with. Consider writing a Flood Plan, and store these notes with your Flood Kit.
- Switch off gas, water and electricity when you get flooded.
- Find a place to move pets to if a flood is on the way. Provide a litter tray.
- If road conditions permit and it is safe to do so remove vehicles to areas unaffected by flooding; ask friends and relatives to use parking facilities.
- Store valuable or sentimental personal belongings upstairs or in a high place downstairs.
- Think about medication. In the event of a flood you will still need to take it.
- If you need to be evacuated because of severe flooding or damage, contact the Police or dial 999
- If you live in a bungalow, caravan, prefab or any other dwelling without access to a second storey and you find yourself in difficulty alert the Emergency Services so you can be evacuated. If you are able to self evacuate and stay with family or friends inform the Emergency Services so your location is known.
- If flooding traps you stay by a window and try to attract attention.
- Disinfect flood water infected toys before allowing them to be used, and wash children's hands frequently.
Don't . . . 
- Allow children to play in flood water areas.
- Throw rubbish into watercourses or leave debris on the banks – it can add to the flooding problem.
- Use electrical circuits or equipment exposed to flood water until checked by a qualified electrician.
- Use food that has been in contact with floodwater.
- Use contaminated water to drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash or prepare food or make ice.
- Dispose of damaged goods until your insurers have had a chance to inspect them.
- Trust bogus traders. Always get a written quotation. Make sure that it is on a letter headed paper with landline contact numbers and address.
Never pay in advance and only pay up when the work is done to your satisfaction
These suggestions are made for guidance only. Always follow the direct instructions of the Emergency Services in the event of an emergency.
Emergency Planning - Links & Downloads <back to top>
Links
UK Resilience http://www.ukresilience.info/home.htm
National Radiological Protection Board http://www.nrpb.org/
EA Flood Warning http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/floodwarning
Environment Agency http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
Flooding and Business Continuity http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/flood/826674/927042
Environment Agency Flood Map
Home Office – Terrorism www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/index.html
The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) http://www.thebci.org/
The Meteorological Office http://www.metoffice.com/
Education Emergencies http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/emergencies/index.html
MI5 http://www.mi5.gov.uk/
The Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/
The Emergency Planning Society http://www.emergplansoc.org.uk/
The Emergency Planning College http://www.epcollege.gov.uk/
Civil Contingencies http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk/
National Guidance on CBRN (Civil, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear) Incidents for Local Authorities UK resiliance
Northumbria Local Resilience Forum
- Publication of Community Risk Register
New register <back to top>
15/11/2005
Emergency chiefs have published a new register setting out how they have assessed a range of natural and man-made hazards in Northumberland and Tyne & Wear.
The Community Risk Register which is published on the Government Office for the North East website, lists scenarios that services hope they'll never have to encounter.
The production of individual Community Risk Registers is taking place across the country under a requirement of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, and addresses issues faced by not just the emergency services, but all public utilities, local authorities, health organisations and government agencies.
It sets out how emergency services, and other agencies have assessed the risks such as pandemics, forest fire, storms, floods, food poisoning outbreaks, oil spills and major accidents involving a plane, ship or train, as well as serious road crashes.
Brian Hesler, Chief Fire Officer of Northumberland and Chair of the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum, which covers the area from Berwick to Wearside, said: " The Community Risk Register is an important document produced following extensive work by the partners within the Local Resilience Forum.
" I am delighted to see the high level of collaboration within the Northumbria area by all partners concerned. No one service or agency can cope in isolation with the major threats in our modern world, and I would like to pay tribute to all our partners in the Northumbria Local Resilience Forum who are all working together to make communities safer.
" We commenced by taking into account a whole range of possible incidents that could potentially occur. Obviously some are more likely to happen than others. Our role therefore is to assess the likelihood and impact of these hazards occurring. The most important issue for the public is that they can have confidence that we have assessed the potential hazards in our area, and have arrangements in place to respond effectively should an incident occur.
" The fact that a hazard is on the risk register does not mean that we believe it is very likely to happen or that its impact would be severe, but we have to be prepared. We reviewed a range of scenarios to allow us to have a full view of the risks facing the people in the Northumbria area, and will use this to review how we as a group of services respond and protect our communities."
The risk assessment is subject to constant review and the information on this website will be regularly updated. Further details will be made available on the website when it is practical to do so.
Although emergency services and other agencies have to plan for deliberate and terrorist threats, quite clearly the register does not detail these since much of the contingency planning has to be kept confidential from those who would use it to their advantage.
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