The initial role of the local authority in responding to major emergencies is to support the emergency services and then, later, to lead the recovery.
City council responsibilities include:
- Identifying and operating reception centres
- Providing short and long-term accommodation
- Environmental Health
- Media handling
- Collecting/disposing of waste
- Communications
- Assisting with temporary mortuaries
- Highways
- Co-ordinating transport
- Catering facilities
- Co-ordinating the work of the voluntary agencies and individuals
- Providing counselling and support for those affected assisting other agencies and individuals
Local authority emergency planning responsibilities are carried out in accordance with a variety of statutory requirements and legislation:
Responsibilities are fulfilled through the integrated arrangements with other responders, which include:
- The provision and maintenance of general emergency management plans for continued delivery of local authority services and additional functions, as required, during and following a disaster
- The provision and maintenance of emergency plans for specific industrial hazards
- The provision and maintenance of specific plans for other local sites considered potentially hazardous e.g. sports and other entertainment venues
- Support and guidance to local authority directorates in the development of departmental emergency plans
- The integration of community arrangements into the emergency planning process
- Ensuring local authorities have input into the emergency planning arrangements of other agencies eg emergency services, health services, public utilities and the military
- Training and exercising key staff and volunteers
- The development and co-ordination of exercises to test plans and provide practical training
- Maintaining resource information to support an effective emergency response