Emergency planning

Prepare, Respond, Recover

The Emergency Planning Unit (EPU) is part of the Transport, Environment & Leisure Department based at County Hall, Trowbridge. The EPU team has six team members.

The team’s main function in an emergency is to provide support and assistance to the council’s service providers, the Emergency Services and other agencies, during the initial stages of an incident, whilst trying to maintain normal council services. Once the initial threat to people and property has passed the team coordinate and assist with the recovery of the community.

The Emergency Planning Unit is a member of the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Resilience Forum (LRF), the strategic multi agency group who is responsible for coordinating effective and efficient integrated emergency management arrangements for the Wiltshire area. This is achieved by preparing plans and exercising on a regular basis, both internally, and with colleagues from the responding agencies through the LRF to ensure that Wiltshire is well prepared to respond to major incidents. For further information please see link to LRF documents below.

The Unit also provides a Duty Emergency Planning Officer (DEPO) scheme that maintains 24 hour cover in case of an emergency. The DEPO will be the first point of contact for the Emergency Services, and will initiate the local authority response for to an incident alerting colleagues and other agencies as appropriate depending on the type and scale of the incident

Emergency Plans

The Emergency Planning Unit ‘s main function is to prepare and maintain emergency plans that enable the resources of Wiltshire Council to be mobilised quickly and efficiently to mitigate the effects of a major incident. They cover a wide range of subjects, basically everything that is needed to support the local authority response and keep it running throughout the duration of a major incident.

Wiltshire Council plans include:

The Wiltshire Council Major Incident Plan (WCMIP) (which outlines the principles and procedures put in place to enable the Local Authority to manage and mitigate the effects of emergencies occurring within the County).
The Emergency Rest Centre Guide
The Humanitarian Assistance Centre Guide
Flooding
Multi-faith Guide

Off-site plans are produced for specific sites in order to meet the County Council's obligations under Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH) and Major Accident Hazard Pipeline Safety Regulations (MAHPSR).

Wiltshire and Swindon Local Resilience Forum (LRF) joint documents include:

The Wiltshire and Swindon LRF Major Incident Joint Procedures Guide (MIJPG). (The multi-agency document which brings together the operational procedures of the LRF partner agencies.)
Extreme Weather Protocol
Warning and Informing Strategy/Process
Community Risk Register
HAZMAT Guide
LRF Joint Procedures Guide
Media Guide

All the above LRF documents are maintained jointly with LRF partner agencies to ensure a coordinated multi-agency response and are available on the Wiltshire Police website

Response

In the event of an incident occurring that is, or has the potential to become a major incident the local authority will generate a full response according to the Wiltshire Council Major Incident Plan and LRF Major Incident Joint Procedures Guide. Following the declaration of a major incident, Wiltshire Council will initially act in support of the emergency services and usually have the longest involvement. The Council’s response will be flexible and in proportion to those resources available to them at the time. Key local authority staff will then implement the Wiltshire Council Major Incident Plan. In the long-term the local authority may well become the lead agency for the incident, particularly during the recovery phase. Good liaison between the emergency services and the local authority, particularly at the scene, are essential and will be enhanced by the presence of Local Authority Incident Officer and/or the response vehicle at the Joint Incident Control Post.

Recovery

In addition to the support provided to the Emergency Services, the County has a longer-term involvement in the recovery of the community and can have an influence upon most aspects of community life during this phase of an operation.

The Council’s involvement during the recovery period and return to normality may be prolonged and extensive and could include:

Rehabilitation of the community
Social support
Welfare and appropriate counselling support
Emergency finance
Emergency housing
Emergency feeding
The provision of equipment and staff
The provision of suitable premises for other functions including temporary mortuaries and media centres
The provision of technical advice and resources
Environmental health management
Logistical support
Long term management for restoration of normality

Contact between the emergency services, voluntary agencies and the Council before, during and after incidents to establish liaison and the recognition of their individual roles, is not only recommended, but is also essential for a successful and professional return to normality.

Contact Details

Email: emergencyplanning@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 713159
Fax: 01225 713156
Postal Address:
Emergency Planning Unit
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JD