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The role of local authorities in an emergencySimon Wright

Senior Emergency Planning Officer

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North Yorkshire 4 Hospitals 1 (maybe 2) Upper Tier COMAH site – plus hazardous

sites. Drax and Eggborough Power Station Key road network (A1, A19, A66, M62) 9000km roads / 2000 bridges East Coast Mainline / Trans Pennine Express Main Rivers (Swale, Ure, Tees, Ouse, Rye, Nidd,

Wharfe) + becks / coastline Largest county in England, 600,000+ population Spending Review

Flooding

Influenza Epidemic / Pandemic

Contamination Food Chain

Pollution (land, air, water)

Motorway accidents

Severe Weather – snow / gales

Targeted Protest e.g. fuelTelecomms outage

Electricity outage

CBRN

Mass Fatalities

EvacuationsMass Casualties

Site Clearance

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Fuel Protests – North Yorkshire 2000Foot and Mouth – North Yorkshire 2001Great Heck Rail Crash – Great Heck nr Selby 2001Fire and Rescue Service Strikes – North Yorkshire 2002Large Timber Merchant Fire - Northallerton 2003Flash Floods - Sutton Under Whitestonecliffe / Hawnby 2005Camp for climate - Drax 2006Flash Floods – Filey 2007Severe Winter – North Yorkshire 2008Unexploded WW2 bomb - Ebberston 2009Majestic Hotel Fire - Harrogate 2010

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OverviewAim – to become familiar with the role of LAs in

emergencies Why a LA response is required What the LA roles are in an emergency…..and how to

access this support What type of resources are available….including support

at the scene How we prepare for emergencies…ensuring we meet

our responsibilities MIRT

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NYCC EPU Based at County Hall, Northallerton Established manning of 11 personnel Workload / division of tasks; plans, liaison, groups,

forums and projects Provide EP and BCM to County Also to Hambleton / Richmondshire / Scarborough /

Ryedale / Craven / Selby Provide 24/7/365 cover for County and Districts –

coordinate response Coordinate LA response Liaise and work with Harrogate and City of York

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Why a response is required Civil Contingencies Act 2004 Statutory Duties EP and BCM: same as blue lights Capabilities Programme North Yorkshire Risk Register National Security Strategy / Strategic Defence and

Security Review COMAH (hazardous sites) / PSR (pipes) / REPPIR

(radiation) Central Direction (Civil Contingencies Secretariat) Local risk and direction

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Emergency RolesLA role is to: Provide support to emergency services

e.g. Resources / expertise Provide support to local and wider community

e.g. Accommodation / Humanitarian Assistance Lead on recovery

Can be long-term

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How is this support initiated? Emergency Services - call Self-generated – awareness District call

Through Duty Officer on call 24/7 365

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Material resourcesSupport to the response: Continuity of essential LA services Evacuation of LA buildings Assist in evacuation Traffic Management Sandbags Clear critical watercourses Dangerous structures and buildings Environmental Health expertise Temporary Mortuary and body holding Removal of waste Vehicles / plant

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Welfare resourcesSupport to the community: Rest Centres / emergency accommodation MIRT Emergency feeding, clothing and childcare Interpreters Support for ‘victims’ of the emergency Identify vulnerable people / establishments Public information for community Advice on benefits and rights Humanitarian Assistance Liaise with voluntary groups Appeal Funds Recovery

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Response

Use Nationally recognised command and control structure:

Bronze - Operational Silver - Tactical Gold - Strategic

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Recovery Led by Local Authority Agree Strategy Suggested Tgt groups – including local businesses

and restoration of tourism, Local Amenities (not considered priority areas but may have significant positive effect on morale of public

Divided into sub-groups to look at specific areas. Groups like YOMMS may be invited to sit on some

sub-groups

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What’s next? Informing the public and businesses – raising awareness Assisting vulnerable establishments and people Working more with Utilities Re-assess in light of public spending review

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Any questions?

Simon Wright

Senior Emergency Planning Officer NYCC

01609 532246

07891 587350

simon.wright@northyorks.gov.uk