Emergency Planning

Resilience in Herefordshire

The world we live in demands that we have plans in place to deal with the consequences of flooding, pandemic diseases and a range of other emergencies. We have seen in recent times how the people of Herefordshire have been affected by events such as adverse weather, flooding and pandemic flu. Indeed, these recent events confirm that major incidents can strike anywhere with little or no warning, devastating communities and local economies.

Herefordshire Council and NHS Herefordshire will play its full part, together with partner agencies, in supporting the emergency services in the early phases of the response to an emergency in the county and will then take the lead role in helping the community to recover from the effects

The purpose of the Resilience Team is to:

• Ensure Herefordshire Council and NHS Herefordshire meet its obligations under the Civil Contingencies Act (CCA) 2004.
• Support the efficient delivery of civil preparedness and business continuity. 
• Support the preparation and continual review of emergency and business continuity plans and procedures.
• Facilitate the exercising, validating and auditing of plans.  
• Provide a comprehensive and competent advisory and support service on Health and Safety matters to all employees, including schools. To provide a proactive approach to the management of health and safety issues within the council.

The Resilience Team is required to ensure the following service delivery functions:

• Council, NHS and multi-agency Emergency Response Plans at all levels are aligned.
• Key personnel receive bespoke training in response emergencies.

In so doing, the Resilience Team will provide the local authority interface with the wider Government Office West Midlands Regional Resilience Team (RRT) and the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum (WMLRF) by which West Mercia's multi-agencies respond to emergencies and co-operate with each other.    

The Resilience Team pages provide specific information relating to all aspects of Herefordshire Emergency Planning. Should you require any further information please contact the Unit on 01432 261 881 or alternatively via email on resilienceteam@herefordshire.gov.uk   

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 requires the Local Authority to take up civil protection duties and to ensure greater consistency and cooperation at the local level. It establishes a clear set of roles and responsibilities for those involved in emergency preparation and response at a local level. The main duties are as follows:

• Co-operation - working with the other Category 1 and 2 emergency responders within the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum
• Information Sharing - exchanging information and plans with other multi-agency responders
• Risk assessment - identifying potential hazards within the local context, assessing the risks and considering how the risks should be managed
• Emergency planning - maintaining and exercising plans for preventing emergencies; reducing, controlling or mitigating the effects of emergencies; and taking other action in the event of emergencies
• Business Continuity Management - co-ordinating the Authority's plans to ensure it can continue to perform essential functions in the event of an emergency
• Communicating with the public - advising the public of risks before and during an emergency
• Providing business continuity 'advice and assistance' to business and voluntary organisations.

The Resilience Team is a member of the local Multi-Agency Silver Group that helps to promote resilience within the County and its aim being that of 'protecting Herefordshire'. Members of the partnership consist of Category One responders within the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum who are specific to the County of Herefordshire, they are:

a. West Mercia Police

b. West Midlands Ambulance Service

c. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

d. Herefordshire Council and NHS Herefordshire (HPS):

                      (1) Resilience Team
                      (2) Any other department identified (e.g. Highways)
                      (3) Communications Unit

e. Wye Valley NHS Trust

g. Environment Agency (though resources may dictate they can only sit at SCG and/or regional level)

h. The Military (though resources may dictate they can only sit at SCG and or regional level)

i. Volunteer Agencies (though resources may dictate otherwise, but contact will be maintained through the Resilience Team)

j. Additional members where identified

As well as dealing with the aftermath of a major incident, all of the organisations work together to ensure plans are in place to prepare for and respond to the consequences of an emergency.  Agencies regularly test and update these plans to enable them to respond immediately and effectively.

The Community Risk Register

The Act requires responders to undertake risk assessments, maintain them in a Community Risk Register and to publish this register. Risks in this context are those that could result in a major emergency. This Community Risk Register is the first step in the emergency planning process; it ensures that the plans that are developed are proportionate to the risk.

The Community Risk Register for the West Mercia region is currently held on the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum (WMLRF) website.

For further information about Herefordshire Councils' role in public protection, please contact us on:

Tel: 01432 260000
Fax: 01432 261719
Email: resilienceteam@herefordshire.gov.uk

Resources

Civil Contingencies Act 2004 - A Short Guide

154kb

Emergency Planning Ready to Respond Leaflet

Emergency Planning Leaflet - this leaflet gives an overview of the role of the Emergency Planning Unit along with advice for the Public

Adobe PDF

524kb

Parish Major Incident Emergency Plan Template 2008

MS Word

156kb

If you need help to understand a document, or would like it in another format or language, please call 01432 260500 or email info@herefordshire.gov.uk

Adobe offer a free Reader to view these files which can be downloaded from their website