Features

Exercise Watermark is a national emergency flood response exercise taking place from 4 -11 March 2011.

Following the floods in 2007, an independent review of the emergency was carried out. This is called the Pitt Review and one of the recommendations was to hold a national emergency response exercise to test the nation's response to major flooding.

Local resilience forums will be taking part across the country and some are linking directly with COBR (Cabinet Office Briefing Room) during the event. The Sussex Resilience Forum are 'playing' in the exercise by responding to a simulated flood in Uckfield, Selsey and Gatwick. A Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG) of senior emergency responders will be set up at Sussex Police Headquarters, Lewes, to coordinate the response.

Other local events will be taking place in Lewes, Newhaven and Seaford, and Arun. These events will also be supported by members of the SRF. Community flood plans and business continuity plans will be tested  across East and West Sussex in the run up to the exercise in March.

This event will offer expert information and advice to the public with demonstrations of flood protection products for homes and businesses from manufacturers, advice from local flood action groups and the National Flood Forum.

Full information on the exercise, events and ways to get involved can be found on the Exercise Watermark website.

The Sussex Local Authority Emergency Planning Group (SLAEPG), in partnership with the SRF and the Emergency Services, provide training courses for Local Authority Incident Liaison Officers.

Wednesday 6th April 2011 at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Training Centre, Crawley, RH10 1UN.

 Normally held in a central location in the County, the course is in two parts, the first is an introduction to the role for new Liaison Officers, and the second part encompasses the practical side of the role. 

This includes the use of various types of communication, how to be effective at a tactical briefing, the media, and an introduction to the Joint Emergency Services Control.

The courses are open to not only members of Local Authorities, but also the Emergency Services and Voluntary Agencies, to ensure that there is a better, more efficient working relationship at incidents.

There has been a magnitude 9 earthquake,  thought to be the 6th largest ever,  off of the coast of Japan 250 miles (400km) from Tokyo at 1446 local time on Friday 11/3/11.  There continues to be a risk of aftershock and tsunamis across the Pacific region.

HELPLINE

The Foreign Office has established a crisis unit and set up a helpline for UK nationals in Japan and their relatives back home.

 These numbers are   +44 20 7008 0000 (from Japan) or 020 7008 0000 (in the UK).

You can also e-mail the Foreign Office on japan.earthquake@fco.gov.uk or skype (text not call) on "fcojapan". You can register your interest in using the FCO charter option to leave Japan by calling +44 20 7008 6900.

More information can be found on the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and BBC websites.

The Sussex Resilience Forum (SRF) Recovery Plan all day exercise is planned for Friday, 24^th June 2011 at the  Council Chamber,  Lewes.

This exercise will follow on from the Sussex element of the national flooding Exercise Watermark in March and will test setting up the Recovery Co-ordinating Group structure, which would be led by local authorities on behalf of affected communities following a major emergency in Sussex. 

When you think of a major incident, do you think of lots of vehicles with blue lights flashing, people in uniform bustling around, and the sound of walkie-talkies crackling with urgent messages?

 
Well... okay - but let's take a closer at what is actually happening. That fire has been brought under control, but the nearby residents are being looked after by volunteer first aiders, with help from a volunteer faith group. The police have secured the area, but volunteer searchers are looking for a possible victim. A volunteer technical team is providing the radio network that links all the responding organisations. Clothing and hot food is being provided by other volunteers, and the seriously affected families are being supported by... specially trained volunteers.

 
That's right: Major incidents need lots of skilled and trained volunteers from many different organisations who are on call 24 hours a day. One of those volunteers might be YOU. Do you know what services those other organisations can provide? Do they know what you can do? What critical steps should you take to look after your volunteers at an incident? Where can you get emergency lighting? How do all these groups talk to one another? Who's in charge at an incident? Whoa! Shouldn't there be some sort of training about this?

We thought so, too - we call it: Awareness Training.

 On Wednesday 18 May, we shall be running two sessions at the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Training & Conference Centre in Crawley - one between 13:00 and 16:00 and one between 18:30 and 21:30. If you are a member of a voluntary organisation that provides a 24-hour emergency response service then you should attend. There is no fee and refreshments will be provided.

 Packed in to each three-hour session will be:

An introduction from the statutory emergency services, who appreciate the voluntary sector
How to work safely and co-operatively in a multi-agency environment
What you should prepare to be ready for any emergency
Using communications and telecommunications (and the difference between them!)
Managing your volunteers - safety, welfare and duty of care issues
Assisting vulnerable adults and children 'correctly'
Plus a full-blown table-top exercise to get you all thinking
Plus a debriefing from a trained counsellor
Plus an insight into the rôle of the Sussex Volunteer Sector Resilience Group
Plus a free table-top exhibition where you can showcase your organisation's services
 

The Sussex Resilience Forum will be represented, and will be demonstrating the latest version of the National Resilience Extranet (Not sure what that is? Now is your chance to ask!)

 Download the booking form to reserve your place, but be quick because they're going fast.

A new community information booklet produced by the Sussex Resilience Forum aims to help local residents and businesses be better prepared for emergencies.

The release of the booklet is supported by the launch of the new Sussex Resilience Forum website at www.sussexemergency.info

Information on emergencies such as severe weather, flooding, animal disease, pandemic flu and fuel shortages are all included, alongside other Sussex-specific risks, with very clear and straightforward advice on the things people can do in their own homes and businesses to prepare for major incidents.

The booklet and website suggest simple, but easily overlooked, precautions people can take including putting together an 'emergency kit' in case they should need to leave their home suddenly, advice on how and when to switch off the utilities in their home and the importance of tuning into local radio for news updates.  

Assistant Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney of Sussex Police, who chairs the Sussex Resilience Forum, said: "Thankfully, major incidents are rare in Sussex. While we can't predict when emergencies are going to occur, what we can all do is take more responsibility for preparing ourselves for potential situations. 

"The aim of producing this booklet is to raise awareness of what the risks are in Sussex and highlight the simple things people can do so they are better prepared to protect themselves, their families, homes and businesses in the event of an emergency."  

The booklet and website will also give everybody living and working in Sussex a better understanding of their local Resilience Forum and an insight into how emergency services, local authorities and other organisations are working together to develop robust plans and systems for responding to local emergencies.

Martin Funnell MBE, Emergency Planner for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service who was involved in the creation of the booklet, added: "Fortunately we aren't talking about earthquakes and Tsunamis here, but we know from experience that localised incidents like flooding or extreme weather can have a very serious impact on the Sussex community.

"This new booklet and website are a way for us to help local people help themselves, as well as give them the confidence of knowing that all our partner agencies are working hard behind the scenes to mitigate those risks and ensure there are tried and tested support systems in place in times of crisis." 
The Community Information booklet is available at libraries, council offices, schools and other public buildings across Sussex or you can visit the Sussex Resilience Forum website at www.sussexemergency.info

Be a 'casualty' to train rescuers

Would you like to help us to test the decontamination processes used after a chemical incident? You'd be helping to train emergency workers in case they have to face the real thing

We're looking for people over 18 who can spare a few hours one Sunday in November, to join us at Gatwick for the largest live exercise of the year.

See up close how the public are treated when it's a real life situation. More than 300 emergency service workers from Sussex and Surrey, along with other agencies, will be involved.

Your help is crucial to make this training realistic for those taking part, and you will play a casualty undergoing the decontamination process. Whatever the November weather, we'll make sure you don't freeze!

                                    Date:    27th November 2011, 10am to 3pm

To sign up or to find out more information please visit

www.westsussex.gov.uk/exercisetriumph

or telephone 01243 777917

It promises to be an interesting day, and will help to ensure that all emergency services throughout East and West Sussex are fully prepared for such an event.

Parking and light refreshments will be provided

Unusual…vital… and you'll be glad you've done it…