Emergency planning service
West Lancashire is a safe place to live, but major emergencies -
like flooding, release of chemicals or need for
evacuation - may occasionally happen. When they do, many
different agencies, including the council, will be involved in the
response.
A Major Emergency Response Office is on call 24 hours a day for the
authority and can be contacted on 01695 577177. If the emergency is
out of office hours, listen to the recorded message and follow the
information given about what to do in an emergency.
What emergencies does the Council plan for and
attend?
The council plan for and attend any event or situation that:
- threatens serious damage to human welfare, environment or
security
- and which overwhelms existing response arrangements
- and which cannot be dealt with within existing day-to-day
resources or procedures.
Such emergencies include release of chemicals, flooding,
radiation and radio activity incidents, coastal oil pollution,
widespread food poisoning, evacuation and rest centres, etc.
The aims of the Emergency Planning Service are:
- To ensure that West Lancashire District Council is best
prepared to respond to a civil emergency affecting any part, or
all, of the District, in an effective, efficient and professional
manner.
- To work across council divisions and in full co-operation with
emergency services, voluntary agencies and other groups to tackle
an emergency incident and bring about a swift return to
normality.
What happens in a major civil emergency?
There are a large number of plans at national, regional and
local level that establish general principles, procedures, and
courses of action to ensure speedy mobilisation and co-ordination
of resources.
West Lancashire District Council is part of the Lancashire
Resilience Forum (LRF) - a partnership of local emergency
services such as police, ambulance, and fire; health authority,
statutory and voluntary agencies, and other groups. These
organisations have a planned response to emergencies, and these
plans are co-ordinated by the LRF to avoid confusion in the
immediate aftermath of an incident.
Lancashire Resilience Forum
The LRF meets twice a year to give strategic
direction and to make policy and funding decisions. However, the
main work of the LRF is carried out by the General Purposes Group,
or the Lancashire Major Incident Co-ordinating Group (LANMIC),
which oversees and co-ordinates the work of thematic sub-groups.
LANMIC is a county-wide group, consisting of representatives from
the various emergency services, local authorities and other
professional and voluntary agencies. It has been in place to
co-ordinate the county's planning for, and responding to, major
incidents for many years.
The LRF has produce a new credit-card sized information
card to remind you about important details that may help you during
a major incident that means you must remain in your
home.
On the card you can find telephone contact
numbers for NHS direct and the Environment Agency floodline, along
with useful websites and the various frequencies for Radio
Lancashire.
It’s small enough to fit into a wallet or
purse, or even to leave next to the telephone.
Copies of the card are available in venues
such as pharmacies, district and unitary council buildings, police
stations and county council buildings, such as libraries. Visit the
LRF website (external
link) to find out more.
Advice to businesses
Further advice to businesses and information on the business
continuity statement is available from the LANMIC website (external
link)
Contact details
If you would like any more information regarding the council's
Emergency Planning Service, please contact:
Dave Tilleray, Executive Manager Community Services
Tel: 01695 585202
Email: david.tilleray@westlancsdc.gov.uk
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