Emergency planning
The Emergency Planning Unit (EPU) is part of the Transport, Environment & Leisure Department, based at Trowbridge and provides the emergency planning service for Wiltshire Council in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 sets out arrangements for local, regional and national level emergency planning, establishing a clear set of roles and responsibilities for those involved in emergency preparation and response at the local level. For further information see link to EP Legislation below.
The aim of the EPU is to plan for a flexible approach to all manner of emergencies, enabling Wiltshire Council to respond effectively and in a way that is fully integrated with the response procedures of the emergency services and other partner agencies.
The Emergency Planning Team
The EPU currently has a team of seven staff, as follows:
Mark Kimberlin, County Emergency Planning Officer
John
Edwards, Deputy County Emergency Planning Officer
Jane Browning, Senior Emergency Planning
Officer - Training
Pat Waylen, Senior Emergency Planning Officer - Communications
Nick
Bate, Emergency Planning Officer - Welfare
Janine Rohwer, Emergency Planning Officer
– Business Continuity
Caroline Gale, Emergency Planning Assistant – Officer and Admin
Support
The Unit provides permanent 24-hour duty officer cover. The Duty Emergency Planning Officer is usually the first point of contact out of hours for the Emergency Services in the event of a major incident. The scale and type of incident dictates the level of response required.
Contingency plans
The EPU prepare and maintain contingency plans that enable the resources of Wiltshire Council to be mobilised quickly and efficiently to mitigate the effects of an incident. These 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 (procedures to provide short term care to members of the public that have been evacuated from their homes).
- The Humanitarian Assistance Centre Guide (to provide long term advice and assistance to families, survivors and communities affected by a major incident).
Multi-faith Guide (to enable multi faith leaders to provide pastoral care to the community during an emergency).
Off-site plans are produced for specific sites in order to meet the County Council's obligations under COMAH, MACR and MAHPSR regulations.
The Emergency Planning Unit represents Wiltshire Council on the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Resilience Forum (LRF) This is the strategic multi-agency group responsible for coordinating effective and efficient integrated emergency management arrangements for the Wiltshire and Swindon area. The LRF produce a number of joint plans which are exercised on a regular basis to help ensure we are well prepared to respond to emergencies. For further information please see link to LRF documents below
Response and recovery
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. The local authority may well become the lead agency for the incident, particularly during the recovery phase.
In addition to the support provided to the Emergency Services, the Council 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.
Wiltshire 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 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