Emergency planning

Most of us plan for emergencies. We may give spare keys to neighbours, carry a donor card or first aid kit, even if we don't expect a problem. Government, local authorities, businesses and other bodies also plan for the worst, but on a larger scale. Sometimes this is to obey the law, or simply because it makes good sense to protect the public and employees.

Emergency planning involves assessing threats and where possible preventing them, tackling major emergencies when they occur, carrying on business as usual and restoring normality afterwards. As far as we are concerned, our main role is to support the emergency services in the response to an incident and oversee the return to normality. We have prepared an emergency plan for this situation.

The organisations that have a part to play in the response to a major incident are many and varied. In order to make the best use of the human and material resources of so many organisations, it is essential that their efforts are co-ordinated and combined to provide an integrated response. Within Oxford City Council, it is the role of the Emergency Planning Officer to ensure that this happens.

The following websites provide more useful information:

• County Council Emergency Planning Unit
• Environment Agency Flood Warnings
• Weather Information
• Health Protection Agency
• UK Resilience

Page last reviewed 15 Apr 2008