The Emergency Planning Section maintains, on behalf of the Council, a comprehensive set of emergency plans to enable a response to be mounted to any emergency. Emergencies do not follow any pattern and, therefore, the majority of the plans are generic.

A few specific plans are in place for known or identifiable hazards. These plans are contained in the Emergencies Handbook which is distributed to authorised emergency response staff within the Council and to partner organisations.

Below is a summary of the contents of the Emergencies Handbook. Detailed plans which can be accessed from 'Downloads' are:-

• Emergency Contacts
• Check Lists
• Major Emergency Scheme
• Evacuation and Rest Centres 
• Flooding Response
• COMAH Guide for Wakefield Council Officers
• Mutual Aid, Assistance and Wide Area Response 
• Community Recovery Plan

Introduction

This section contains the data protection statement, index, record of updates and incident management log.

Emergency Contacts

A comprehensive list of contact numbers for key staff and other agencies is available to relevant Council staff.  This list is updated at least every other month and sometimes more frequently to ensure accuracy.

Check Lists

For each of the emergency response posts, detailed guidance notes / check lists are prepared to ensure that the officer appointed is fully aware of his/her responsibilities.   The section starts with a risk assessment summary for working on an emergency site or at a rest centre which staff are required to read prior to undertaking any duties.  The main emergency posts are set out below with a brief description of duties:-

Duty Emergency Manager
Officer on call 24 hours a day to ensure that emergencies can be responded to quickly. He/she is also responsible for co-ordinating the Council's emergency response.

Site Officer
The Site Officer is responsible for ensuring effective deployment of Council resources and staff at the scene of an incident and for liaison with other on-site organisations.

Site Transport Officer
The Site Transport Officer, appointed by Family Services, ensures that all transport requirements for evacuation at the site of an incident are met.

Administration Co-ordinator
Ensures that the procedures in place for setting up and running the emergency control centre at County Hall are implemented

Service Liaison Officer
Represents his/her Service's interests at the emergency control centre.

Service Site Representative
Represents his/her Service's interests at the emergency site.

Evacuation Officer
Ensures that once the decision to evacuate an area has been made, the transport and rest centre arrangements are put into place.

Rest Centre Manager
Responsible for the operation and management of a rest centre and ensures that the wellbeing of evacuees is catered for. He/she is assisted by a deputy, support staff and a representative from Family Services. During incidents involving longer term evacuation the Wakefield District Housing will also be present at the rest centre.

The Major Emergency Scheme

The Major Emergency Scheme is the main generic plan and covers:-

• Definition of an emergency
• Phases of an emergency
• Aims and objectives
• Levels of command and control
• Responsibilities of organisations
• Activation of the major emergency scheme (and the minor emergency scheme)
• Levels of activation
• Responsibilities of officers appointed to emergency response posts
• The Emergency Management Team
• The Emergency Management Committee
• Strategic Level Coordination
• Call out system
• Liaison and communication arrangements
• Responsibilities of Services
• Elected member Notifications
• Glossary of terms
• Layout of the emergency control centre

Rest Centres and Evacuation Procedures

In the event of an area of the District being evacuated, detailed procedures are in place to deal with evacuation and transport arrangements together with the establishment of rest centres (evacuation centres). The plan covers matters including:-

• Management of the evacuation process
• Notification and activation
• Co-ordination and liaison 
• Evacuation risk assessment
• Evacuation assembly points
• Information for evacuees
• Documentation arrangements and registration procedures
• Transport
• Security 
• Premises to be used for rest centres
• Management of rest centres
• Activation Procedures
• Guidance for evacuation and rest centre personnel.
• Rest centre requirements
• Equipment
• Evacuee return
• Mass evacuation
• Decontamination procedures

Flooding

These arrangements have been drawn up in consultation with the Environment Agency who are responsible for identifying areas at risk of flood and issuing flood warnings. The plan sets out the types of warnings, the action to be taken at each stage, the issue of sandbags, provision of boats and transport, evacuation arrangements and steps following the reduction in floodwater levels.

Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH)

The COMAH Regulations require the Fire Authority to draw up off-site emergency plans for chemical and other sites storing or manufacturing potentially hazardous materials. Under the Regulations Wakefield Council has certain responsibilities in the event of an incident which, in the main, are covered in our other emergency plans (e.g. public information, evacuation etc).

Utilities and Supplies

Water, gas, electricity and communications are an important part of everyday life and a disruption to any of these can cause significant problems. In conjunction with the utility suppliers, the Council has arrangements in place to mitigate the effects of disruptions to supplies.  Duration and area covered by an interruption to a supply have a significant bearing on the actions required by the Council.

Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Incidents

This section outlines the Government and emergency service response to CBRN incidents and outlines the responsibilities of the Council relating to

• evacuation
• rest centres
• health and safety
• mutual aid and back-up facilities
• religious and cultural issues
• environmental remediation and community recovery
• fatalities
• warning the public

Mutual Aid, Assistance and Wide Area Response

The Council’s formal mutual aid agreement with the other West Yorkshire local authorities is outlined, together with the nationally agreed assistance available from the military

Public Information and Media Relations

Information to the public and the media during an emergency is extremely important.  Organisations within West Yorkshire who respond to incidents have signed up to the West Yorkshire Media Protocol which sets out responsibilities.  The Public Information and Media Relations Plan summarises this protocol and sets out the specific arrangements the Council would need to put in place.

The arrangements with the Government News Network and the BBC are outlined together with the procedures for establishing a public helpline.

Voluntary Organisations (summary)

The Local Authorities in West Yorkshire rely on the voluntary organisations to assist in an emergency response. The Voluntary Organisations Plan, which was drawn up jointly by the five West Yorkshire Districts with the organisations, sets out the roles, responsibilities and resources available for each voluntary organisation.

Communications

This section sets out the arrangements for the deployment and use of communications emergency equipment.

The Council maintains an emergency communications vehicle for use at the site of an emergency. The vehicle's equipment includes two cellular phones, one of which is linked to a laptop for internet access and email, fax and short wave radio system

The communications available in the emergency centre include 5 computers with internet/email access and geographic information system, 16 telephone lines and fax together with a 10 line helpline which can be set up at very short notice. The Council also maintains one satellite phone in the unlikely event that all other methods of communication fail.

Finance and Appeals Plan

The finance section of this Plan deals with the Council’s internal accounting arrangements for incurred expenditure during an emergency.  The arrangements are designed to make it easier to identify expenditure which might be reclaimable from the Government or insurers.

The appeals section is still under preparation and will set out in detail the Council’s arrangements for administering a public appeal for financial assistance.

Emergency Assistance Centres

This plan sets out the arrangements to establish a "one stop shop" for advice and assistance to those who have been affected by a major emergency.

Community Recovery

This plan deals with the arrangements for the recovery stage following a major emergency.

Service Plans

Each of the Council's Services has its own arrangements for responding to emergencies and these set out the way in which Services fit in with the overall response.

Supplement 1 – Support staff – Contact Details

This section contains personal contact details (e.g. home telephone numbers) and is not available to the public under data protection legislation.

Supplement 2 – Rest Centres Directory

This section contains personal contact details (e.g. home telephone numbers) and is not available to the public under data protection legislation.  However, the premises identified as potential rest centres include leisure centres, sports halls and schools.

Supplement 3 – Forward Control Vehicle Guide

A procedural document for operators and drivers of the forward control (communications) vehicle.

Supplement 4 – Emergency Control Centre, County Hall – Set Up Guide for Staff

A procedural document with instructions on the establishment and operation of the emergency centre.

Supplement 5 – Reference Documents

This is a comprehensive list of documents, guidance etc. which have been used in the compilation of the various plans.