Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan

Transcription

1 BRIDGE Parish Council Caring for the village Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER CALL 999 October 2014

2 All enquiries relating to this document should be sent to: Christobel Seath Parish Clerk Bridgeford House, Brewery Lane, Bridge, Canterbury CT4 5LF Telephone/fax: (weekday mornings) Bridge Parish Council Approved 9 October 2014 Next scheduled review: March 2015 The latest version of this document may be obtained from the Parish Clerk Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

3 Contents 1. Overview of this plan Aim and Objectives: Parish Boundaries and Area Insurance, Health and Safety People who may need support Warning and informing Identifying Local Risks 6 2. Community Emergency Team and other Volunteers Bridge Community Emergency Team Community Emergency Co-ordinator(s) Community Emergency Volunteers 7 3 Local Skills and Resource Assessment 7 4 Other Agencies Outline Responsibilities 8 Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

4 1. Overview of this plan This plan sets out a framework for action in an emergency by the community in Bridge. It gives key facts and contact points to enable the community to react quickly. However, it is not possible to predict and plan in detail for every emergency. The plan will need to be adapted to the needs of an emergency when it occurs. Any community emergency will rely on the willingness of people within the community to help. This community spirit was very evident in the flooding in early 2014 and there is confidence that it will be there when the village faces another emergency in the future. An emergency or major incident is any event or circumstance 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 effect cannot be dealt with by the emergency services, local authorities and other organisations as part of their normal day-today activities. It may happen with or without warning 1. Examples of emergencies are: severe flooding, heavy snow, pro-longed power failure, heat wave, and major traffic accidents. The emergency services will always prioritise people and areas in greatest need during an emergency, especially where life is in danger. There will be times when people may be affected by an emergency but life is not in immediate danger. During such time communities need to know how to help themselves. By becoming more aware, the community can support the work of local emergency responders and reduce the impact of an emergency. This plan is based on Kent Resilience Forum s framework. The information in the plan will be used to coordinate a response to local emergencies. The main section contains an overview of the plan. Details for operating the plan in Bridge are held by Bridge Parish Council and are being constantly reviewed and updated by its emergency plan committee. 1.1 Aim and Objectives: The aim of the Community Emergency Plan is to maintain a contingency plan to increase resilience within the local community by: Developing a coordinated approach that complements the plans of responding agencies 2. 1 The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 defines an emergency as an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the UK, the environment of a place in the UK, or war or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the security of the UK 2 Responding agencies includes emergency services, local authorities, voluntary services Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

5 Enabling the community to support itself when outside assistance from emergency services or local authority is delayed or overwhelmed. Providing a single point of contact for requests made by emergency services and local authorities. Keeping people informed so they can help themselves. Ensuring as many vulnerable people as possible are contacted and assisted. 1.2 Parish Boundaries and Area This plan covers the civil parish of Bridge which comprises a village and rural area of about 408 hectares with a population of 1, The village is 2.5 miles south east of Canterbury and 12 miles from Dover. It is on the old Roman and old coaching route (Watling Street) which was the main road between London and Dover. Bridge is now by-passed by the A2 to Dover. The village is set on hills either side of a valley where the River Nailbourne flows intermittently. It is a popular residential area and has good bus services into Canterbury. The village has older, listed buildings and residential properties built in the early 1960 s. There are two residential care homes, sheltered housing, a primary school, health centre and businesses including a village store, butcher, hairdressers, photographers, architect, accountancy, estate agent, vehicle repair garage and pubs. The Parish shares borders with the Parishes of Bekesbourne-with-Patrixbourne, Bishopsbourne, Lower Hardes and Barton (part of Canterbury). 1.3 Insurance, Health and Safety. Those named in this plan and other volunteers from the community are not trained, equipped, empowered or resourced to carry out functions of an emergency service. The community response will be generally confined to supporting the welfare of people in the community and helping to maintain normal community life. Volunteers and Emergency Team Members provide support at their own discretion and in a voluntary (not compulsory) capacity. No one is expected to carry out duties they do not feel able to undertake. 1.4 People who may need support in an emergency In an emergency, it is important to check if isolated or vulnerable people need assistance. Although many vulnerable people may be known to organisations such as the local authority, NHS and utility providers, others may not be known or may become vulnerable during an Incident Census data E Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

6 People who may be vulnerable and a priority for support and deployment of resources in an emergency, include: Elderly people who may not be very mobile People with physical disabilities People with learning difficulties Parents and others looking after very young children People who are unable to see or have severe sight impairment and people who are profoundly deaf. Non English Speakers People may become vulnerable at any point and under different circumstances. A list of people and groups of people who may need support is held by members of Bridge Community Emergency Team and the Clerk to the Parish Council. All information is held securely and in accordance with the Data Protection Act. 1.5 Warning and informing Warning and informing is a responsibility of the emergency services and other statutory bodies, however emergencies can be unexpected and it is often impossible to reach everyone directly. The community is encouraged to contact the Community Emergency Coordinator, any member of the Community Emergency Team or any member of the Parish Council when they become aware of an incident. This will allow the Community Emergency Team to act and spread the word. Up to date information will be put on the Parish website and Parish Council notice boards (by White Horse pub and at top of Bridge Down steps) as it becomes available to the Community Emergency Team. Community meetings will be held at the nominated community meeting point as required. This will normally be either Bridge Village Hall or St Peter s Church. In river flood risk areas, residents can sign up to the Environment Agency s free Floodline telephone flood alert service (see or call for more information). During wide-spread events, information may also be through local media such as: BBC Radio Kent 96.7FM, 774 AM and on DAB BBC Kent Kent Messenger Environment Agency Met Office Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

7 1.6 Identifying Local Risks The most likely risks that could have a significant impact on Bridge are: weather (cut off by snow; storm damage to power cables & trees); flood; road traffic accident (A2 & bridge over A2) preventing access to the village. The Environment Agency website has up to date flood alert maps and warnings 2. Community Emergency Team and other Volunteers The Community Emergency Team is a voluntary group supported by the Parish Council. The team will work in partnership with the emergency services and provide local co-ordination. Local residents are encouraged to help themselves and others in emergency situations. Working with the Community Emergency Team will be Community Emergency Volunteers. 2.1 Bridge Community Emergency Team The key role is to provide on-the-ground local knowledge about the situation, local conditions and circumstances - as well as providing an element of self-help within the community, where this can be achieved without risk. The Community Emergency Team is responsible for developing, maintaining and overseeing the implementation of the community emergency plan. The team will include Parish Council representatives and others with knowledge and skills to add to the group. Community emergency volunteers will join the team as needed. 2.2 Community Emergency Co-ordinators The role of Emergency Co-ordinator is to provide a vital link between residents and organisations planning for and responding to an emergency. Their role is to: Facilitate completion and maintenance of Bridge Parish Council s Community Emergency Plan Call a community meeting during an emergency (if considered necessary) Provide the focal point for the community response to an emergency Act as the main contact point for Canterbury City Council and ensure that twoway communication is maintained Provide a link between the community and other agencies responding, which may include the Emergency Services and the local council Assist the local council and appropriate agencies in emergency preparedness through awareness-raising activities Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

8 2.3 Community Emergency Volunteers The Community Emergency Volunteers are residents who provide additional support, expertise and local knowledge. Their contribution is co-ordinated by the Emergency Co-ordinator and Community Emergency Team. The Parish Council has identified two specific roles Flood Warden and Snow Warden for which volunteers are being identified. Some Community Emergency Volunteers may have formal qualifications or training, which may be of assistance until the emergency services arrive. Other Community Emergency Volunteers may, for example, visit and monitor vulnerable people, help with transport or pass messages on foot when communications are down. The need for Community Emergency Volunteers will depend on the emergency with people being asked to help as the need arises. Information will be posted on the Bridge Village website and Parish Council notices board beside the White Horse pub in the High Street and the steps at Bridge Down, 3. Local Skills and Resource Assessment The Community Emergency Team will encourage local residents to provide information, voluntary help and resources to assist with any perceived emergency. The Parish Council with Community Emergency Team will prepare and maintain a core list of information about local skills and resources. At the same time, recognising it is unrealistic to try to plan for every circumstance and the availability of people and resources is constantly changing. Skills and resources identified include: Volunteers: Organisations and individuals who already volunteer, or who would be prepared to volunteer in an emergency including Snow Warden, Flood Warden Equipment: Tools and machinery which might be needed in an emergency and people qualified, capable and willing to operate them. Supplies: Sandbags and salt Transport: Vehicles which could be used by the community in emergency. Drivers willing and able to help with the distribution of supplies. Names of other potential volunteers and resources will be held by the Community Emergency Team, others will be identified according to need at the time. Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

9 4. Other Agencies Outline Responsibilities County Council & District Council This list covers the responsibilities of all local authorities, and shows how these are split between County Council and district council. Where a responsibility falls to one party, the other may agree to carry it out on their behalf, through mutual aid arrangements, or provide support. 1 2 Provide a 24 hour point of contact to receive alerts and warnings, and for the management of a large volume of public calls Co-ordinate the local authority response where more than one district is involved County District 3 Establish and staff a local authority Forward Control Point Liaise Lead 4 Alert Health Authorities where action other than direct casualty care is required 5 Liaise with Central and Regional Government 6 Liaise with administrative authorities in bi-national or multinational emergencies 7 Arrange for military aid 8 Assist in providing a catering service for involved personnel 9 Alert and coordinate voluntary organisations 10 Arrange attendance of ministers of religion 11 Support other responders with council resources 12 Implement animal health measures Support other responding agencies in the response to a communicable disease outbreak Establish a system for disseminating information to the public, in cooperation with other responders, and make premises available for Public Information Centres 15 Open and run support centres as required Environment Agency The Agency has responsibility throughout England and Wales for: Management and regulation of the water environment, including abstraction licensing, pollution control, flood warning and flood defence. Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October

10 Controlling industrial pollution, particularly at nuclear, oil and chemical sites and major industrial processes. Regulating the transport and disposal of wastes. The Agency will attend all incidents posing a significant or potentially significant environmental impact, or, in specific circumstances, posing a threat to human health. It will take appropriate action to prevent or mitigate the effects of such incidents and should always be informed of them as soon as possible. These might involve pollution of controlled waters, unauthorised disposal of waste (including fly tipping), accidents with radioactive substances, chemicals or major industrial processes, flooding, drought and low river flows, fish kills and poaching. The Agency will work with the Kent Fire and Rescue Service to minimise the threat to the environment caused by chemical spills and contaminated fire-water run-off and warn appropriate parties who may be affected by the associated dangers. It will also investigate the causes for possible legal action. According to the seriousness of the incident, an Agency officer will attend as soon as possible following receipt of a report within a maximum of two hours during normal office hours and within four hours outside office hours. However, these are maximum times and every effort will be made to attend as quickly as possible. The Agency operates a 24-hour service for reporting incidents and will usually be alerted by the emergency services or the local authority. The public throughout England and Wales can report pollution incidents on the national reporting number In an emergency situation due to flooding, call 999 for the Fire Service. Data Protection Some of information given in response to this plan (e.g. addresses, contact numbers) is classed as 'personal data' under the Data Protection Act (DPA, 1998). Whilst holding this data is legally justified (e.g. in order to protect interests of members of the community in an emergency) the information will be stored and handled sensitively, in accordance with the requirements of the DPA. Bridge Parish Council is the 'Data Controller' and will ensure that 'reasonable steps' are taken to ensure information is collected, stored, handled, retrieved, shared and disposed of in an appropriate manner. BPC Community Emergency Plan main doc for website 12 dec 14 Bridge Parish Council Community Emergency Plan October