Emergencies
Major disaster or Incident response
Building resilience
Links and information to emergency planning and business continuity resources.
Definition of an emergency|
An emergency is defined as:
'An event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the United Kingdom, the environment of a place in the United Kingdom, or war or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the security of the United Kingdom'.
There are 2 tests to decide whether an incident is an emergency:
- Where the emergency would be likely to seriously obstruct the councils ability to perform its function
- Where the council would consider it necessary or desirable to act to prevent, reduce, control, or mitigate the emergencies effects, or otherwise take action and would be unable to act without changing the deployment of its resources or acquiring additional resources
Aims during an emergency|
All services and agencies will be working to achieve common objectives:
- To save life
- To prevent escalation of the disaster
- To relieve suffering
- To safeguard the environment
- To protect property
- To facilitate criminal, judicial, public, technical or other inquiries
- To restore normality as soon as possible
The additional principal aims for the council are:
- To support the Emergency Services
- To support, care for and rehabilitate the community
- To mitigate the effects of the incident
- To coordinate the response by organisations other than the emergency services
- To restore the environment
- To continue the normal service provision
Council responsibilities
We have several areas of statutory responsibilities that should be met during an emergency:
- Environmental Health
- Housing
- Social Services
- Highways
Latest Events|
Any current or recent emergencies that have required the Council to respond.
Borough Emergency Plan|
Details our response procedures following a request for help from the Emergency Services or other partner agencies.
Advice to the public|
General advice for the public to help prepare for and deal with an emergency should you be affected.
Advice for businesses|
Advice and further reading for businesses to help maintain their core business during an emergency and return to full operation quickly.
Trauma Support|
See what support the Council offers to those affected by an emergency and where to go for further information and support.
Flooding|
Flooding information and advice for the public and Council employees.
Avian Influenza (bird flu) pandemic|
Frequently asked questions about this high profile risk, along with expert advice from the Health Protection Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Joint working|
See all of the departments and external organisations the Council works with to help develop a combined response to emergencies.
Exercise Diary|
Read about forthcoming exercises involving the Councils emergency response and see how you can get involved.
Feedback|
Form for if you have been involved in an emergency and have any comments or feedback that you would like to tell the Council.
Contact
Roger Brett
Group Manager - Emergency Planning
Communications Centre
Town Hall
1 Town Square
Barking
IG11 7LU
Tel (Office): 020 8227 3119
Tel (24 hour): 020 8594 8356
Fax (Office): 020 8227 3296
Fax (24 hour): 020 8227 3470
Email: roger.brett@lbbd.gov.uk|
Useful web links
Preparing for Emergencies|
In summer 2004 every home in the United Kingdom received an information booklet, 'Preparing for Emergencies - What you need to know'. It gives practical common sense advice on what to do in an emergency, for example, a fire, terrorist attack or natural disaster.
UK Resilience|
The website of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office. It provides links to government and non-government sources on a wide variety of emergencies and crisis that can affect the United Kingdom, plus emergency planning guidance and government information.
