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What we do in an emergency

Our role is to provide effective contingency planning, preparation and response. Our main responsibilities include:

• prepare and co-ordinate plans in response to emergencies and their aftermath
• maintain, train and exercise our plans
• provide information and warning to the public
• provide essential services to the public during an emergency
• work with our partner agencies in the emergency services, neighbouring local authorities, health organisations, government agencies and utilities to provide a co-ordinated and effective response

What type of emergencies do we plan for?

• flooding and severe weather
• people who are displaced as a result of explosions and fires
• major transport incidents
• pollution and major industrial accidents

These are some of the services we can provide:

• opening our Emergency Control Centre to manage the council's response
• providing liaison officers to other agencies at the scene of an emergency
• providing technical services and mapping information
• carrying out structural inspections in the event of damage
• removing debris
• opening rest centres for evacuees and providing longer term accommodation if required
• providing care and support to affected people
• providing information and advice
• managing the recovery and restoration of infrastructure and services after an emergency
• business continuity advice to businesses and voluntary organisations

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