Name of Committee
Date of Committee
Overview and Scrutiny
25/01/12
Agenda Item No______14_______
Emergency Planning
Summary:
Six monthly update on Civil Contingencies- Emergency Planning,
the progress made to date, ability to respond to any disruptive
events that have recently occurred and the outline of future
objectives.
Conclusions:
Recommendations:
That members note the contents of the report.
Cabinet member(s):
Ward(s) affected:
All
All
Contact Officer, telephone number, Richard Cook
01263 516269
and e-mail:
richard.cook@north-norfolk.gov.uk
1.
Introduction
The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 places a statutory duty upon Local Authorities (as a
Category 1 Responder) to carry out the following duties:
•
Put in place:
o
emergency plans
o
business continuity management arrangements
o
arrangements to make information available to the public about civil
protection matters and maintain arrangements to warn, inform and advise
the public in the event of an emergency
•
Share information with other local responders to enhance co-ordination
•
Co-operate with other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency
•
Provide advice and assistance to businesses and voluntary organisations about
business continuity management (Local Authorities only)
The Act introduces new requirements on authorities and other agencies to work
together to develop, maintain and implement effective arrangements to meet the
challenges of the 21st century. These include flooding, rail disasters, foot and mouth,
the impact of climate change and pandemics.
Name of Committee
Date of Committee
Overview and Scrutiny
25/01/12
In order to comply with this duty and to ensure an effective response is delivered to
lessen the impact or disruption on the district, it is essential for the Emergency Planning
Team to:
•
Carry out district wide risk/hazard assessments and ensure planning meets the
needs of the district
•
Prepare emergency plans. These plans are prepared in consultation with
emergency services, health service, voluntary organisations, utilities and other
partner organisations
•
Ensure Business/Service Continuity Management processes are in place to
maintain a reasonable level of service for the district no matter what disruptions
are faced. Advise local businesses on the same.
•
Test and exercise emergency plans.
•
Provide the public with information and advice before and during an incident.
1.
Emergency Planning
2.1
Plans
A gap has been identified that not all managers have the ability to have emergency and
business continuity plans at hand, especially out of hours. All Emergency plans will be
put on to an encrypted memory stick or CD and will be issued to all relevant managers
by the end of January 2012; the Civil Contingencies Team will update this media when
updates and new plans are issued.
2.2
Sandbag Policy
The present sandbag policy is unsustainable and is not the most effective flood
prevention measure and is no longer supported by other organisations such as the
Environment Agency. The provision to supply sandbags via the waste contractor is no
longer in place. The removal of this policy may lead to a negative publicity risk to the
Authority. This risk was identified during budget review, when it was decided to remove
the sandbag issue policy. Officers will work to publicise and mitigate this risk.
2.
Incidents
3.1
9th November 2011
On 9th November at 14:30hrs I was requested to go to Tactical Control Group (Silver
Command) meeting as two suspected radiological canisters had been discovered in a
loft space in a property at Paston, one canister was reported to be oozing. At 09:50hrs
the police had been informed by some builders working at the property that they had
found and handled a lead canister with “Actinium” stamped into its casing. Actinium is a
radioactive substance that emits Alpha particles and has been used in the treatment of
some cancers and is a radioactive emitter. The 8 persons at the site were given basic
hygiene advice and asked to stay on site.
Name of Committee
Date of Committee
Overview and Scrutiny
25/01/12
The Silver Commander invoked a National Arrangements for Incidents involving
Radioactivity (NAIR) stage 1 incident. Experts were convened at Police HQ and after
consultation with the Health Protection Agency (HPA) this incident was upgraded to a
stage 2 incident because the stage 1 responder’s equipment could not confirm or
unconfirm the detection of Alpha particles. HPA advised that a call is put through to the
nearest NAIR 2 responders at Sizewell A. After consultation with NAIR 1 and NAIR 2 it
was decided that the builders needed to be accessed so NAIR 1 would go to the site
and carry out initial monitoring while NAIR 2 made way to the site to check for alpha
particles.
NAIR 1 confirmed nothing detected on the persons at the site and this was also
confirmed by NAIR 2.
It was then decided to check the two reported canisters in the house loft. The first item
showed that no radiation was being emitted and the canister was intact, it was double
bagged and removed. The second container was found not to be emitting or oozing
and was an old metal weight.
The Sizewell technician’s advice was to treat the 1st canister as unknown and a
potential contained radiation source. This was because of the wording on the casing
“Actinium” and the fact that it was a lead container. The decision was made to secure
the container within the house and I would speak to the Environment Agency (EA) 10th
November for disposal advice. Incident stand down 21:25hrs
The EA called back and their regional officer would make contact on the 11th to make
arrangements for the items collection and disposal. The property owner was advised to
fully secure the canister and to wait further instructions.
On 27th November the Environment Agency (EA) carried further test on the containers
and then declared the item non hazardous. To stop a repeat of the incident the EA
officer encased the container in cement and disposed of it via landfill.
3.2
27th November 2011
On 27th November high tides and a storm surge were predicted for that evening and
flood warnings were issued for Wells Quay, Salthouse and tidal river flooding on the
Thurne, Bure and Ant. Flood alerts were issued for the NN coast from Sheringham to
Winterton. I contacted the flood wardens at Wells, Cley and Sea Palling to confirm they
had received the warnings. I was unable to contact the Bacton senior flood warden so I
made the decision to go to Bacton and Walcott to close the NNDC flood gates, this was
completed by 1700hrs. At 1950hrs I got called by the Environment Agency to inform me
that some residents had been evacuated at Walcott/Bacton. After speaking to the
senior flood warden at Bacton, who was worried and reported water on the road on the
Bacton side of Walcott, I decided to go to the site to find out the latest situation. I
arrived at 2030hrs and the Walcott flood wardens had taken the decision to evacuate a
total of 16 residents to the Lighthouse Inn. These residents were from the Caravan site,
Helena Road and St Helen’s Road. The situation on the ground was that some waves
were splashing over the top of the sea wall and approx 6 - 8” of water was standing in
some places on the Coast Road. No properties were flooded. Once the waves died
down and stop spraying over the sea wall the flood wardens allowed the residents to
return to their properties at approx 2245hrs. The sand and detritus left on the road was
reported to Environmental Services on the morning of 28th November and Highways
and Kier commenced the road clear up.
Name of Committee
Date of Committee
Overview and Scrutiny
25/01/12
3.
Future Objectives
For the coming six months key objectives relating to Emergency Planning are;
•
Review existing plans such as Rest Centre, Emergency Response and
Happisburgh plans.
•
Review Work Action Recovery plan and Work Action Recovery site.
•
Dispose of Sand bag machine and remaining sand bag stocks.