The modern world is still an unsafe place and
there are a multitude of potential risks and so major emergencies
will inevitably occur. The one thing you can be sure of in an
emergency situation is that it will probably be the last thing that
you expected. Floods, severe weather, transport accidents (air,
sea, road, rail) or incidents involving dangerous chemicals usually
strike without warning.
The Council recognises that there is an need for
effective planning for civil emergencies to ensure the efficient
and speedy management of the response to these incidents between
all the possible agencies; the Police, Fire Brigade, Ambulance
Service, the Council, utilities providers and voluntary agencies.
Eden works in partnership with Cumbria County Emergency Planning
Unit to prepare and plan for dealing with emergencies.
The purpose of the Council's emergency planning
is to provide staff with the plans, procedures and information they
will require to enable them to ameliorate the effects of any major
emergency occurring within Eden District, whilst allowing Council
services to continue to provide as far as possible their usual day
to day services.
The emergency plans set out the information,
procedures and details required to ensure an effective, flexible
and timely response to an emergency thus reducing to a minimum the
distress and disruption caused by such an incident.
If you require any further information on the
Council's emergency planning, please use the contact details
above.
Dealing with an emergency
Whatever the situation, it is important to be
ready to follow the instructions from the Police and other
emergency services. Planning for an emergency is never easy because
no-one can predict what might happen - a major road, train, air or
river accident; a serious fire; violent storms; flooding or another
dangerous incident. Whatever happens, it will almost certainly mean
police, fire and ambulance services in the front line of a tough
situation.
Although every incident is different, they will
operate in accordance with principles set out in the General
Emergency Plan.
These procedures are constantly being updated,
and the Council will mobilise, where appropriate, the necessary
officers. Public utilities, voluntary organisations and many
businesses also have their own emergency plans.
An emergency incident might mean evacuating an
area and providing temporary accommodation. Reception centres may
need to be set up, support provided and information given to
anxious relatives.
Arranging all this is the job of the emergency
services supported by the Council and many other public, private
and voluntary organisations.
Radio and TV - warning the public
In major emergency situations, it may be
necessary to issue warnings and advice to the public. Such messages
would normally be broadcast on relevant radio and TV channels.
Remember to cater for power cuts - you should
have a battery-operated radio and know how to tune in to your local
stations.
Local Radio Stations
These are as follows:
- BBC Radio Cumbria
Address: Annetwell Street, Carlisle.Cumbria. CA3
8BB
Telephone: (01228) 592444
Textphone: (for the hearing impaired): 01228 525946
Email:
radio.cumbria@bbc.co.uk
Website: BBC Radio
Cumbria
- CFM
Radio
Address: PO Box 964, Carlisle,
CA1 3NG
Telephone: (01228) 818964
Fax: (01228) 819444
Website: CFM Radio.com
Major Hazard Sites
Some industries, because of the nature and
quantity of chemicals or substances stored or processed, are
required by law to distribute information to people living in the
immediate vicinity of the hazardous sites.
Fortunately there are currently no such sites in
Eden District.
For futher information:
- Contact: Director of Technical
Service, Mansion House, Penrith CA11 7YG
- Telephone: (01768) 817817
- Email:
dts@eden.gov.uk
- Fax: (01768) 890470
