Evacuation and traffic management (full report) - FLOODsite

Task 17 Evacuation D17-1
Contract No:GOCE-CT-2004-505420
– A marshalling area for assembling vehicles and equipment;
– A body holding area that is under cover and protected from public view;
– A media liaison point.
(Source: HM Government 2005b)
2.2.6 Evacuation planning
It is important to note that in the UK evacuation can only be advised not ordered. The possible need
for evacuation of the public from the immediate vicinity may have to be considered at a very early
stage. In some circumstances it may be necessary to advise the public on whether they should
evacuate a given area or remain and shelter indoors.
It is normally the police who recommend whether or not to evacuate and define the area to be
evacuated. Their recommendation will take account of advice from other agencies. The Fire and
Rescue Service will inform them about risks associated with fire, contamination and other hazards.
Ambulance services and local authorities can advise on problems associated with moving people who
are frail, disabled or at risk for any other reason. Local authorities will also be able to identify
individuals or groups of individuals that may need particular support. Local authorities can also
advise on the location of pre-designated rest centres and on other possible places of shelter within the
area (HM Government 2005a, 2005b).
The police can only recommend evacuation and have no power (except within the inner cordon in
response to a terrorist incident) to require responsible adults to leave their homes. Past experience has
shown that people with domestic pets may be unwilling to leave their homes unless arrangements
include them.
In deciding whether to evacuate or not, it is necessary to assess whether bringing people outdoors may
put them at greater risk than leaving them where they are to shelter indoors. This is particularly
important where flood water levels are likely to rise quickly.
When planning for contingencies, building occupiers should seek professional advice on whether there
are areas in the building where people can shelter safely. Such areas must be structurally robust and
should be equipped with telephones, first-aid facilities, adjacent toilet facilities and a water supply.
There are particular problems in evacuating hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, and in evacuating
those individuals who are at home, but are frail or vulnerable. Large scale evacuation is a last resort
owing to the length of time it takes to complete and the risks the public may be exposed to as a
consequence of being evacuated. Local planning should include arrangements to support people
sheltering in their own homes where this is the safest option.
However, when there is a decision to evacuate, evacuation assembly points should be set up near the
affected area. If time permits, these should be signposted. People in the affected area should be
advised to go to their nearest evacuation assembly point. People taking prescribed and other
medications should be reminded to carry these with them, and particular attention needs to be paid to
those with sensory impairment.
Bearing in mind that evacuation may be at different times of day or night and from locations as
different as homes, industrial complexes, shopping malls, venues, ports or airports, various methods
can be used for warning and informing the public: loudhailers, tannoys, mobile public address
systems, radio or TV announcements, works sirens, display screens, scoreboards and monitors, or
various combinations of these methods (HM Government 2005a, 2005b).
T17_07_02_Evacuation_and_traffic_management_D17_1_V4_4_P01.doc 19 03 2008
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