Emergency Planning in action
Communities in Gloucestershire have used their Emergency Plans in the past months…………
During the snow in January Weston sub Edge put their plan on standby and instigated their telephone helpline. Requests for prescriptions were collected from the pharmacy by a volunteer with a 4X4 vehicle.
After a traffic accident ruptured a gas main Lechlade opened up their Memorial Hall as a place of safety within 15 minutes, when 150 people needed to be evacuated from their homes at 6.30 am.
These are the sort of practical actions which can be put in place by local communities and pre-planning makes it work that much more smoothly.
Dispelling the myths
A number of people were concerned about what we can actually do to help our friends and neighbours, but without the worry of possibly being sued. This advice from Communities Secretary John Denham may help. The excerpt below is taken from the communities and local government webpage published in January 2010.
Communities Secretary John Denham praised the tremendous efforts of local people who pulled together to help deal with the challenges of the recent severe weather.
“The Government is joining forces with local government and the Health and Safety Executive to bust the myth that people who volunteer to undertake a civic duty could be at risk of facing legal action under health and safety laws. For example, there is nothing in health and safety legislation to prevent a person taking sensible steps to clear a pathway to improve the situation, or volunteer to do shopping for a neighbour in need. Nor should anybody who volunteers to support their community feel they are in danger of being sued and be put off wanting to help others.
We shouldn't let myths about litigation get in the way of people's civic minded actions. I hope that people will use their common sense in this matter and not be put off helping others.”
All rural parishes in Gloucestershire should have received a copy of the GRCC ‘Your Community Emergency Plan Toolkit’ which gives a framework to help communities develop a plan. For more information please contact Marilyn Cox at GRCC: marilync@grcc.org.uk 01452 528491
