Plan

We prepare emergency response plans to safeguard our communities.

Emergency Planning's main aim is, where possible, to prevent emergencies occurring and, when they do occur, good planning should reduce, control or mitigate the effects of the emergency.

It is a systematic and ongoing process which should evolve as lessons are learnt and circumstances change. Emergency Planning in Worcestershire County Council is part of a cycle of activities.

Emergency Planning aims to write:

1. Plans for preventing an emergency.
2. Plans for reducing, controlling or mitigating the effects of an emergency.
3. Plans for taking other action in connection with an emergency.

The three highest emergency rated risks most likely to affect our county are:

• Severe weather events in particular flooding and prolonged cold temperatures including snow.
• Pandemic flu.
• Technical failure of the electricity network.

The Emergency Planning Diagram

Risk Assessment: Before any plan is written, a risk assessment should be undertaken to establish the likelihood and impact of the emergency happening.

Plan Writing: Based on current legislation & information issued by the Cabinet Office or other leading agencies.

Consultation: The draft plan would be circulated to stakeholders, senior managers and interest parties for consultation.

This will allow you to obtain comments and views for partners, who will read, understand and use the plan. What might be clear to the plan writer may not be clear to the end users.

Training and Exercising: Training can include discussion-based (E-learning), table top (one to one and group training), live exercises. Records of all training should be kept for future reference.

Debriefing: After every type of training and exercising event, review of the responses by the emergency services and agencies giving assistance is essential.

Lesson Learnt/Amending plans: After any exercise, the plan should be reviewed and amended from lessons learned.

The West Mercia Local Resilience Forum (WMLRF)

The LRF is a multi-agency group comprising bodies within West Mercia, such as local authorities, national and local health agencies, the three emergency services and the Environment Agency.

The purpose of the LRF is to ensure effective delivery of the duties of the Civil Contingencies Act. This requires the partner agencies to co-ordinate resources so they can respond effectively when incidents do occur, to ensure West Mercia remains a safe place.

The LRF also exists to warn, inform, advise and educate the public about developments in the area of Civil Protection. The LRF also works together on plans for collaboration with all organisations involved.

West Mercia Multi Agency Generic Joint Emergency Response Arrangements Plan (JERA).

In collaboration with the blue light services and other emergency responders, we have plans in place to protect people, communities and the environment in a range of situations.

The Joint Emergency Response Arrangements Plan  (702KB)