Emergencies - Major Incident Response

A major incident is defined as: "An emergency that requires the implementation of special arrangements by one or more of the emergency services or the local authority."

The Council's responsibilities during a major incident are to maintain our existing services to the community, to provide support to the emergency services and to take the lead in organising the restoration to normality. The council's involvement in any major incident will normally be the most long term of all the organisations involved.

The Council's preparations for its response to a major incident are outlined in the Sutton pdf icon Corporate Flood Plan - Private [77kb] which is subject to continual review and amendment  in collaboration with the emergency services and those voluntary agencies that might be concerned in responding to a major incident.

Information to the public

Whenever possible, the provision of reliable and regular information to those affected by emergencies will be a priority for all agencies. Messages can be relayed over local radio and television networks as well as through other existing channels of communication with communities.

Role of a local authority

  • Maintaining statutory services at an appropriate level
  • Supporting the emergency services and other organisations involved in the immediate response
  • Providing support services for the community and others affected by the incident
  • Enabling the community to recover and return to normality as fast as possible
  • Providing 'mutual aid' to other local authorities as requested

Purpose of civil protection

The purpose of civil protection in Sutton is to provide the Councils' staff with suitable plans, procedures and information necessary to enable them to improve the effects of any major incident, whilst allowing departments to continue to provide, as far as possible, their usual day-to-day services.

The Government believes that local authorities should develop an integrated approach to emergency planning, embracing a number of concepts, including:

  • The integration of arrangements for a range of emergencies, whether in peacetime or resulting from hostile acts. The focus of the response to major incident should be on the effect rather than the cause, unless special measures are required
  • The integration of emergency arrangements into the Council's existing management and operational structures
  • The co-ordination of plans with neighbouring authorities, the emergency services, and other agencies involved in emergency response and management

The Council's responsibilities

During an emergency Sutton Council may be required to provide the following services:

  • The initial call out of Authority staff and resources as necessary
  • Setting up the Emergency Control centre to co-ordinate the Councils response
  • Establishing liaison between the Council and its departments, Emergency and Health Services, the Armed Forces, Voluntary organisations and Government and other agencies involved
  • Restoring those services which have been affected by an emergency for which the Council is usually responsible
  • The setting up and management of evacuation centres. The provision of immediate care and welfare support is a priority particularly for persons with special needs, the elderly and children
  • To co-ordinate requests for additional resources which may be required by partner agencies during the emergency response
  • Establishing procedures for a joint media response
  • Arranging things like highway clearance, repairs and signing of roads and cordons. The latter in conjunction with the Police
  • Arrange for any repairs to damaged roads and bridges
  • Offering counselling support to those affected by the emergency, including members of staff.
  • In the event of a major incident, the setting up of a disaster fund may be initiated by the Council who would nominate trustees for its administration and appoint an officer to keep the accounts
  • Re-house those made permanently homeless by an emergency
  • Give aid to neighbouring Councils when requested
  • Implement measures to control the spread of disease - liaise with the Director of Public Health
  • Maintain financial control of the operation and make arrangements for funding and the preparation of a full cost analysis