What is emergency planning?

Preparing for emergencies at the local level is carried out under a piece of legislation called the Civil Contingencies Act (2004).

This gives local front-line responders clear expectations and specific roles and responsibilities for planning and preparing for emergencies to ensure they are prepared to respond effectively.

As defined by the Act, Category 1 responders include Local Authorities, Environment Agency, and Emergency Services, and many more and they make up our Local Resilience Forums (LRF).

In this partnership, Wirral Council have identified and assessed the range of risks that may affect Merseyside and have collated this data into a community risk register. The main purpose of this register is to guide Merseyside LRF in the preparation and testing of emergency plans. We all must maintain their community Risk register.

Merseyside Community Risk Register 

The act sets out clearly how organisations, particularly local responders, should go about preparing for emergencies. Wirral Council’s Emergency Plan has been designed to cope with any emergency irrespective of how, where or when it occurs. We have a range of resources to provide support when required such as:

  • Provide help and support for the Emergency Services
  • Provide advice, emergency accommodation, transport or food
  • Provide emotional support for victims, family and friends
  • 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
  • Transport issues
  • Help co-ordinate voluntary help
  • Deal with the aftermath by clearing up, providing longer term support for people affected
  • Assist in the prevention of floods – flood control etc.

The Emergency Planning team, also uses a sophisticated Geographical Information System which will help coordinate Wirral Councils response to an emergency or event.

The Emergency Planning service co-ordinates the planning, training, exercising, activation and the management of the Council's response to emergencies. The service works in collaboration with the emergency services, adjoining local authorities, voluntary agencies and the many other varied responders who have a role to play, to ensure there is a coordinated and effective response.

One of the Council’s other responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 is to promote Business Continuity to local business and the voluntary agencies Further information can be found on the Business Continuity Advice Page.