Welcome To Wirral

The following information is provided in response to some frequently asked questions about the Service. The Emergency Planning Section sits within the Corporate Health, Safety & Hazards Team in the Technical Services department of the Council. Its primary purpose is to co-ordinate the Councils arrangements for responding to and planning for emergencies, whether large or small, which occur from time to time across the Borough.

The function has recently been examined as part of the Corporate Performance Assessment and the Audit Commission said:

“The Council has an up to date emergency plan for major disasters. It is clear and comprehensive, outlining the roles and responsibilities of individuals to be involved in the case of emergencies and including practical details such as contact telephone numbers.”

To report an Emergency

To report a serious or life-threatening situation, ring Merseyside Police on 999.

To speak to Merseyside Police when not urgent, ring 0151 709 6010 (or alternatively contact Merseyside Police’s Wirral call handling centre on 0151 777 2080 or at www.merseyside.police.uk

Further help and Advice

During office hours, ring 0151 606 2071, the Health, Safety and Hazards Team of the Technical Services Department or email the Corporate Health, Safety and Hazards Manager on emergencyplanning@wirral.gov.uk

To report council-related emergencies outside office hours ring 0151 647 7810.

“Expecting the unexpected”

The tragic events of recent years, defy prediction. But it is a comfort to learn that every area, including Wirral, has arrangements for dealing with all sorts of emergencies, from bomb scares, major train crashes to major floods. These arrangements have been used in recent times to respond to the Foot and Mouth outbreak, address the petrol crisis and to protect the public during major fires…

 

What kinds of emergencies do plans cover?

Emergency Plans are written as broadly as possible to cover a wide variety of scenarios from natural disasters such as storms or flooding, to man-made accidents like chemical leaks, oil pollution, air and train crashes. They also provide a framework for dealing with other incidents, such as health outbreaks, bomb scares etc.

 

What does the Council do?

Council Departments work closely to co-ordinate their arrangements, which also include other organisations that may be able to help, such as the public services, voluntary groups and HM Armed Services. The plans are reviewed and tested regularly to ensure that they work.

 

How does the Council become involved in an incident?

The Council’s Emergency Plans are normally “activated” by a call from the Police or Fire Service, who would be taking the lead in any response. They will tell the Council when an incident has occurred and where our involvement is needed.

 

How could the Council be involved?

With a wide range of resources at its disposal, the Council is well placed to provide support in many ways, for example it can:

Provide help and support for the Emergency Services;

Provide people with advice, emergency accommodation, transport or food;

Monitor pollution and take appropriate action;

Maintain critical services for the public;

Provide an information service in liaison with the police;

Carry out road clearance, evacuation or demolition;

Help co-ordinate voluntary help;

Deal with the aftermath by clearing up, providing longer term support for the people affected;

Assist in the prevention of floods – flood control etc.

 

What happens if an evacuation is needed?

People are only evacuated when they are at serious risk (life threatening), and are not going to be put in more danger by leaving their homes. It has been shown that more often than not, it is safer for people to remain indoors with doors and windows closed. In recent incidents, the Council has supported the Emergency Services when the main danger has passed, by leafleting local households, to tell them what had happened. However, if there was immediate danger, residents would be advised, by a variety of communication methods – local radio, warning sirens, personal visit, etc to leave.

 

Where would those evacuated be taken?

In the short-term, emergency evacuation points such as local schools, church halls or community centres would provide immediate safety and shelter for people affected. For longer emergencies, certain pre-designated schools in the Borough could be opened up to provide full Emergency Rest Centre facilities with provision for sleeping accommodation, feeding and welfare facilities. Transport to these centres would also be provided. It takes a little time to set up for more long term arrangements – emergency rest centres, etc so people may be asked to find their own accommodation with relatives, friends, etc.

 

What provision is made for people who aren’t very mobile, like the elderly or disabled?

The Council would provide specialised transport. Special arrangements would also be made for them when they reached Emergency Centres, and there would be trained staff available to help them cope.

 

Does the Council “practice” for emergencies?

The Council and other agencies involved in the response to emergencies, exercise on a regular basis to ensure that those Staff with critical duties are experienced in carrying them out.

 

How closely does everyone work together?

All the people who might have to respond to a major emergency or disaster are made familiar with everyone else’s roles and where possible, they get to know each other beforehand. Liaison is organised both within Wirral and also by a co-ordinating group comprising Emergency Planning representatives from the 5 Merseyside Councils. A Merseyside Resilience Forum comprising senior representatives of the Emergency Services, Health and Local Authorities co-ordinate this work.

 

Wirral has a lot of industry, are we more at risk?

With Wirral being a largely urban environment, it must be true to say that statistically; we are more likely to have emergencies than in remote rural areas. However, it is also true to say that there are many more resources immediately available to help respond to emergencies when they arise.

 

How are arrangements kept up to date?

The Council’s Emergency Planning function has the active support of Elected Members and Senior Officers. Members are routinely advised of progress in various initiatives. Certain Members also attend locally and nationally arranged Seminars. The Chief Executive meets with the Corporate Health, Safety and Hazards Manager on a regular basis to review the progress of various issues and is centrally involved in the response to situations as they arise.

 

What does the Civil Contingencies Act require of local Councils?

Emergency Planning activities are now focussed on the requirements of the new Civil Contingencies Act 2004. One of the main provisions of the Act is that it creates two new Groupings of Public Organisations that have key responsibilities, both at the Planning and Response stages of an emergency. These are known as ‘Category 1 and Category 2 Responders’. Thus the Act, which came into force in April / May of 2005, requires that all of the main Local Authorities, along with the Emergency Services, the Primary Health providers and the Environment Agency, become ‘Category 1 Responders’.

 

Business Continuity

The other significant requirement contained in the Act is the development of Business Continuity Management – both within the Council itself and amongst the business community within the Council’s area.

Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a planning process to help ensure that any organisation can deal with and recover from any unplanned interruption to its’ operations. It is about anticipating the type of incidents, for example, fire, flooding, flu, supply failure or anything else which could interrupt your business and planning how you will deal with them and if and when they happen.

Compiling a Business Continuity Plan should ensure that any business no matter how small or large and complex can identify its essential elements and swiftly resume its operations if any unforeseen event occurs. For more information please see the Business Continuity Institute website.