Emergency Planning

Durham County Council has a statutory duty imposed by the Civil Contingencies Act (2004) for emergency planning and preparedness. The Act modernises outdated legislation and imposes a duty on local authorities, emergency services and other local responding agencies to improve emergency response arrangements.

The Act and supporting guidance provides a framework to meet increasing demands in terms of responding to a major emergency. Durham County Council works closely with the County Durham and Darlington Civil Contingencies Unit in order to comply with this and the other duties imposed by the Act.

Durham County Council has a Generic Emergency Plan in place which coordinates the response of the various Services within the council with those of other local authorities, the emergency services and other agencies to an emergency situation whereby the residents or visitors to Durham require assistance beyond that normally provided by the County Council. This plan is a living document that is amended and updated on a regular basis in order to maximise its effectiveness.

Activation of the Emergency Plan could arise from a response to small scale flooding, storms or other natural disaster through to an act of terrorism or chemical leak imposing a threat to the community or the environment.

Other useful links:
Business continuity management
Business continuity advice for local businesses and voluntary organisations
UK Resilience