Preparation
While all incidents or emergencies are different, there is a range of simple and inexpensive measures that we can all adopt to improve self-reliance an minimise possible disruption. We must have adequate measures in place to maintain essential services and recover from the effects of significant disruption. This process is known as Business Continuity Management (BCM).
Business Continuity Management is a management led process that helps identify and prepare for potential disruptions to the smooth running of the organisation. The short-term objective of Business Continuity Management is to ensure that during disruption at least critical services may continue uninterrupted.
The longer-term objective of Business Continuity Management is to ensure that the organisation can prevent, as well as possible, disruptions from occurring and in the event that they do, resume normal services as quickly as possible in the aftermath of any disruption/ emergency event.
Sharing and co-operating with all other agencies
It is required that a multi-agency body is established in every County to co-ordinate emergency management. This County's group is known as the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum and is chaired by the Police Chief Constable. The Forum consists of representatives from Local Government, Emergency Services, Environment Agency, Health agencies, Voluntary Organisations, Public Utilities and Transport. The group meet regularly and share information between one another on all elements of the civil contingencies act and emergency preparedness.
Business Continuity Promotion
Local authorities have an extra duty within the act to promote business continuity to small and medium businesses throughout the county.
Tips for improving self-reliance:-
Keep a battery-powered torch in an easily accessible place in case of a disruption to the power supply.
Have a battery powered or wind up radio available so that you can tune in to the local radio station for information or advice.
Maintain a small supply of ready to eat food that does not require preparation or cooking.
Keep a supply of fresh bottled water in case of a disruption to the water supply.
Have some warm clothing or blankets available in case of a disruption to the power supply.
Ensure that your land line telephone works properly in the event of a power cut (and is not reliant on electricity). Do not rely solely on a mobile phone as networks may become overloaded and the mobile phone may need recharging.
Remember to maintain a supply of spare batteries.
Keep all medication and prescriptions in an easily accessible place in case you are asked to evacuate your home (and remember to take them with you).
Identify any special needs or requirements that anyone in your house or premises may have (the elderly, young children, those on medication or those with disabilities, special needs etc.).
Keep a list of useful telephone numbers to hand (GPs, the local authority, utility companies, insurance company etc.).
Familiarise yourself with the procedures for switching off gas, electricity and water supplies to your house or premises.
Make sure you have adequate insurance.
Car Kit:-
A torch and spare batteries.
A container for fuel.
An updated road map.
A couple of blankets.
A flask..
A small shovel.
A first aid kit.
Normal vehicle tools and spares.
Keep your vehicle well maintained and road worthy Go In, Stay In, Tune In.
The advice is fairly straightforward:
Go indoors, close doors and windows and shut down ventilation systems if it is safe to do so. Unless there is an obvious risk to the property this will give you good short-term protection against the vast majority of hazards
Stay indoors until you know more about the situation and the appropriate action you need to take to protect yourself further. The action you should take will be different, depending on the nature of an incident so you could put yourself at more risk by not waiting for further instructions.
Tune in to local radio and television to find out more about what is happening:-
Lincs FM - 102.2FM.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire - 94.9FM, 104.7FM and 1368AM.
Flood advice:-
Get hold of your Emergency supplies.
Protect doorways and low level air vents with sandbags or plastic bags filled with earth.
Turn off your electricity and gas supplies.
Move as much as you can above floor level to minimise flood damage.
If your are trapped by flooding, without communications, remain by a window to attract attention.
Consider neighbours who may need assistance.