1 The role of local authorities in an emergency Simon Wright Senior Emergency Planning Officer

2 North Yorkshire 4 Hospitals 1 (maybe 2) Upper Tier COMAH site – plus hazardous sites. Drax and Eggborough Power Station Key road network (A1, A19, A66, M62) 9000km roads / 2000 bridges East Coast Mainline / Trans Pennine Express Main Rivers (Swale, Ure, Tees, Ouse, Rye, Nidd, Wharfe) + becks / coastline Largest county in England, 600,000+ population Spending Review Flooding Influenza Epidemic / Pandemic Contamination Food Chain Pollution (land, air, water) Motorway accidents Severe Weather – snow / gales Targeted Protest e.g. fuel Telecomms outage Electricity outage CBRN Mass Fatalities Evacuations Mass Casualties Site Clearance

3 Fuel Protests – North Yorkshire2000 Foot and Mouth – North Yorkshire2001 Great Heck Rail Crash – Great Heck nr Selby2001 Fire and Rescue Service Strikes – North Yorkshire 2002 Large Timber Merchant Fire - Northallerton2003 Flash Floods - Sutton Under Whitestonecliffe / Hawnby 2005 Camp for climate - Drax2006 Flash Floods – Filey2007 Severe Winter – North Yorkshire2008 Unexploded WW2 bomb - Ebberston2009 Majestic Hotel Fire - Harrogate2010

4 Overview Aim – to become familiar with the role of LAs in emergencies Why a LA response is required What the LA roles are in an emergency…..and how to access this support What type of resources are available….including support at the scene How we prepare for emergencies…ensuring we meet our responsibilities MIRT

5 NYCC EPU Based at County Hall, Northallerton Established manning of 11 personnel Workload / division of tasks; plans, liaison, groups, forums and projects Provide EP and BCM to County Also to Hambleton / Richmondshire / Scarborough / Ryedale / Craven / Selby Provide 24/7/365 cover for County and Districts – coordinate response Coordinate LA response Liaise and work with Harrogate and City of York

6 Why a response is required Civil Contingencies Act 2004 Statutory Duties EP and BCM: same as blue lights Capabilities Programme North Yorkshire Risk Register National Security Strategy / Strategic Defence and Security Review COMAH (hazardous sites) / PSR (pipes) / REPPIR (radiation) Central Direction (Civil Contingencies Secretariat) Local risk and direction

7 Emergency Roles LA role is to: Provide support to emergency services e.g. Resources / expertise Provide support to local and wider community e.g. Accommodation / Humanitarian Assistance Lead on recovery Can be long-term

8 How is this support initiated? Emergency Services - call Self-generated – awareness District call Through Duty Officer on call 24/7 365

9 How is this support initiated? o-h o-o-h Confidential We would rather know than not know Remember - LA is rarely a rapid response agency

10 Material resources Support to the response: Continuity of essential LA services Evacuation of LA buildings Assist in evacuation Traffic Management Sandbags Clear critical watercourses Dangerous structures and buildings Environmental Health expertise Temporary Mortuary and body holding Removal of waste Vehicles / plant

11 Welfare resources Support to the community: Rest Centres / emergency accommodation MIRT Emergency feeding, clothing and childcare Interpreters Support for ‘victims’ of the emergency Identify vulnerable people / establishments Public information for community Advice on benefits and rights Humanitarian Assistance Liaise with voluntary groups Appeal Funds Recovery

12 Response Use Nationally recognised command and control structure: Bronze - Operational Silver - Tactical Gold - Strategic

13 Recovery Led by Local Authority Agree Strategy Suggested Tgt groups – including local businesses and restoration of tourism, Local Amenities (not considered priority areas but may have significant positive effect on morale of public Divided into sub-groups to look at specific areas. Groups like YOMMS may be invited to sit on some sub-groups

14 What’s next? Informing the public and businesses – raising awareness Assisting vulnerable establishments and people Working more with Utilities Re-assess in light of public spending review

15 Any questions? Simon Wright Senior Emergency Planning Officer NYCC