Emergency Plan - Fylde Borough Council

Emergency Plan February 2007
organisations involved in the physical restoration of the area. The Council’s Planning and
Building Control services will need to be proactive and flexible with landowners and building
proprietors in securing their co-operation in reconstruction. The appearance of the affected
area may be the public’s only measure of Council activity, so it is important that action is taken
to restore the area as soon as possible.
8.5 Community Involvement
Lessons from previous incidents emphasise the need to involve the community fully in its own
recovery. The authority will need to engage fully with the community and with elected
members at all levels in any restoration measures and give due consideration to their wishes.
The promotion and support of self-help activities are important considerations during the
recovery phase.
8.6 Voluntary Organisations
The voluntary sector is a major resource that can be drawn upon during the recovery phase,
whether the organisation is local or nationally based. Volunteers may live within the area,
have good local knowledge and may have been directly involved in the incident or the
response to it. The efforts of volunteers will, nevertheless, need to be co-ordinated to ensure
their actions are integrated and effective.
8.7 Royalty & VIPs
VIP visits are an inevitable part of a serious incident and can present opportunities for raising
awareness, reinforcing messages and speeding up some aspects of recovery. Such visits will
usually take place in the response phase, but local MP’s and other dignitaries will need
regular updates and may return to the area to assess progress.
(See Media Response Plan referred to in Section 7 of this plan which gives advice on dealing
with the media in major incidents)+
8.8 Memorials & Anniversaries
The nature and severity of the incident will determine the level of media interest and the
community reaction. The council may be a natural focus for establishing memorial or other
remembrance services and should take this on whilst the demand remains. Anniversaries will
provide reminders and the Council should consider the impact of such events on the
community. Welfare support should be a key consideration.
The LANMIC Group has produced a guidance document for Faith Communities in major
incidents. A hard copy can be found on the Emergency Planning Shelves of Room 112
(Environmental Protection).
8.9 Floral and Other Tributes
In recent years, the public response to major incidents has been to place floral or other
tributes as close to the scene as possible. Every effort should be made to deal with these
tributes in a sympathetic and thoughtful manner. If possible, a suitable area should be set
aside, adjacent to the scene, which will not obstruct those responding to, and dealing with the
aftermath of the incident.
Once the initial response is over and work starts on the restoration phase, regular checks
should be made by the Streetscene Unit to ensure that any damaged or decaying tributes are
removed and that the site is kept clean and tidy. Sensitivity is key and this should be taken
into consideration when removing any items from the site. Arrangements should be made to
dispose of these as reverently as possible.
Section 8
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