Definition of a major emergency

In the context of emergency planning a definition of a major emergency is any event (happening with or without warning) causing or threatening death or injury, damage to property or the environment or disruption to the community which, because of the scale of its effects, cannot be dealt with by the emergency services and local authority as part of their day-to-day activities.

Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 the definition of an emergency is an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in a place in the UK, the environment of a place in the UK, or war or terrorism which threatens serious damage to the security of the UK.

Types of major emergency

Major emergencies or incidents within the city council boundary may fall within one or more of the following categories:

• Severe weather conditions/flooding
• Major structural collapse
• Major fire or explosion
• Threats to public health
• Incidents involving city council employees or persons for whom the council has responsibility
• Incidents involving city council premises
• Incidents outside the UK that affect the people of Salford
• War or terrorism
• Major public disorder or criminal activity

Current information on dealing with major emergencies can be found on UK Resilience, the website of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat.

This page was last updated on 6 January 2011