Glossary and FAQs

The members of the LRF represent leading public bodies (Category 1 and Category 2 responders defined in the Civil Contingencies Act, 2004). They make up the senior management group who are responsible for undertaking preparations for, and response to, major incidents and emergencies throughout the geographical area covered by the Sussex Police Force. The Forum meets on a regular basis and discusses the direction and policies relating to emergency planning.

Before the Civil Contingencies Act of 2004 (known generally on this site as the 'Act'), co-operation between responders such as police, fire and ambulance was practised as a matter of routine and necessity. But this was an informal process. When the Act came into force, these organisations, referred to as Category 1 and 2 responders, now had a statutory duty to plan for and co-operate with each other. The Local Resilience Forum fulfils this requirement.

The LRF is not a separate legal entity, nor does it have powers to direct its members. It is not a statutory body, but it is a statutory process. Put simply, it is a means by which Category 1 and 2 responders such as police, fire, ambulance, local authority and the utilities can get together and co-operate in the duties conferred on them by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Pandemic Flu
South Coast Flooding
Severe Weather
Fuel Shortages
Loss of Critical Infrastructure
Animal Disease
Coastal Pollution
Industrial Accidents
Transport Accidents

An event or situation that threatens serious damage to:

• Human welfare
• The environment
• Security
• The economy

In order to constitute an emergency, an event or situation must additionally require the implementation of special arrangements by one or more category 1 responders.

What is a major incident?

A major incident is any emergency that requires the implementation of special arrangements by one or more of the emergency services and will generally include the involvement, either directly or indirectly, of large numbers of people.

For example:

• The rescue and transportation of a large number of casualties;
• The large-scale combined resources of the police, fire and ambulance service;
• The mobilsation and organisation of the emergency services and support services; for example, local authority, to cater for the threat of death, serious injury or homelessness to a large number of people; and
• The handling of a large number of enquiries likely to be generated both from the public and news media, usually made to the police.
• Acts of terrorism including suspected involvement of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices are subject to specific multi-agenct response supported by HM Government.

Emergency planning is an approach to preventing and managing emergencies that entails key activities including anticipation, assessment, prevention, response, and recovery.

Integrated Emergency Management (IEM) is geared to the idea of building greater overall resilience in the face of a broad range of disruptive challenges. It requires a coherent multi-agency effort.

(Emergency Response and Recovery - HM Government, 2005)

• To protect yourself and your business
• Prepare for unusual circumstances
• Ensure delivery of pre-planned responses
• Formulate a check list
• Control the actions of others 
• Protect oneself and organisation(s) 
• Fulfil a legal requirement
• Create a comprehensive reference document

A plan is a written record of agreed future actions intended to be taken to prevent an emergency, or to respond to a disaster or emergency. The contents of a typical plan include:

• Risk and consequence assessment
• Alerting and mobilising procedures
• Resources required
• Roles and responsibilities of responding organisations and personnel
• Incident management structures and processes
• Communication
• Strategies, tactics and operational responses
• Public Information

Through carrying out joint training and exercises partner agencies and stakeholders are able to provide an integrated and coordinated response. This collaboration familiarises all parties with the management framework during a response, highlights problems, ensures plans and procedures are up to date and formulates working relationships.

Multi agency co-operation is required during a major incident; the Local Resilience Forum ensures this. This Forum is made up of bodies that have specific duties as determined by the Civil Contingencies Act (2004). It has representatives from both category 1, and category 2 responders.

This act essentially requires leading public bodies to work together to identify, plan and deal with major emergencies.

In our area, the Local Resilience Forum has been created to administer the legislation across the counties of Sussex.

The Act requires the development of risk assessments in a published Community Risk Register. Risks in this context are those that could result in a major emergency and this Community Risk Register is the first step in the emergency planning process.

The CRR lists hazards that are a potential risk to the population and infrastructure within the LRF area. The hazard topics were identified on a national level by the Cabinet Office, then modified and adapted to make them specific to local hazards. 

The hazards have been determined from studying historical data, and assessing the likelihood of their occurrence. The potential impacts of the risks posed by the hazards have been measured by using health, social, economic and environmental indicators, in accordance with the Emergency Preparedness Guidance.

The Government sent a booklet 'Preparing for Emergencies - What you need to know' to every home in the UK, in August 2004. The booklet contains practical advice on the steps you can take to help yourself and your family in the event of an emergency. If you have misplaced the booklet you can download a copy here.

The Preparing for Emergencies website accompanies the booklet and provides online advice covering:

• Guidance on how to prepare for a variety of emergencies that could occur
• What to do in the event of an emergency
• What the Government is doing to protect the country

Rest Centre staff want to ensure that your stay in their rest centres is as comfortable and as short as possible. There are a number of things that they will provide in every centre that is open, so expect to see the following:

• Reception - rest Centre staff will be there to meet and greet you, and to get you out of the cold. You will be given a rest centre leaflet and staff will advise you where you need to go and what you can expect.
• Registration - everyone who comes into the centre will be registered by the rest centre staff, which will involve taking some basic details such as your name, address date of birth and any urgent needs that you may have. You will also be asked if there is someone who you may be able to stay with for the duration of the emergency, which may be more comfortable than staying put in the centre.
• Assessment - once rest centre staff have taken your details, they will be able to work to make your stay even more comfortable, by providing some of the services shown below. 
• Light refreshments - a drink and a biscuit as soon as you arrive. Arrangements for hot meals when necessary.
• Pets - pets are welcome in the rest centres but if you bring them with you, please be prepared to care for them, as you would at home. Rest Centre staff will set aside an area for pets and help you to look after them as best they can.  However rest centre may not be able to cater for some exotics pets.
• Information - Rest centre staff will set up an information desk which will provide relevant and regular information about the emergency and when it is safe to return home.
• Security - Rest centre staff want to ensure that the centre is a secure place to be, both for the evacuees, staff and their belongings by working with the police and owners of the building.
• First aid service - every time staff open a rest centre, they will work with the British Red Cross and St John Ambulance to ensure that there is a team of qualified first aiders available to deal with medical matters. 
• Communications - being able to communicate with the outside world is important for evacuees and staff, so staff will make sure that they can do this.
• Transportation - to get you to the rest centre and more importantly home again after the centre has closed.

Once rest centre staff have registered you, they will make an assessment from the information that you have provided, and where they can, make arrangements to provide further services to ensure that your stay is as comfortable as possible. These might include hot meals, overnight arrangements, longer-term housing provision (if you cannot return home for a significant period of time) general welfare care and psychological support, looking after the specific needs of individuals and entertainment. Rest centres are an interim solution for the duration of an incident, which would not normally exceed 48 hours.

DEFRA is the lead government department for Avian Flu. Their website contains detailed information on Avian Flu including a list of frequently asked questions. 

For any further concerns or questions the DEFRA helpline number is 08459 335577.

The Met Office have responsibility for warning the community of severe or hazardous weather which has the potential to cause danger to life or widespread disruption of communications or transport through its National Severe Weather Warning Service.

This service can be accessed via the web at the Met Office weather warnings website.
Weather warnings will also be broadcast during regular weather forecasts via local radio, and ITV Teletext page 160 and BBC CEEFAX pages 437 and 438 are all updated frequently.

Flooding can pose a serious hazard to lives and property. By taking simple precautions you can minimise the damage caused by flooding. The Environment Agency 'Floodline' service offers flood warnings for England and Wales. The Floodline service can be accessed day or night for real time flood warnings and advice on:

FLOODLINE 0845 988 1188  (24 hour service) or Type talk 0845 602 6340

The Environment Agency website also shows information about the flood warnings in force  and offers practical advice for coping with floods, and minimising the damage that flood water can cause. Such as:

• Am I at risk of flooding?
• Flood preparation for businesses
• Flooding a guide for older people
• Flood warnings in force
• Prepare for flooding
• Online flood library

In addition to the measures below, a range of practical hints and tips relating to what to do before, during and after a flood are provided by the Environment Agency.

Environment Agency Advice

The Environment Agency's three steps to take to prepare for flooding:

• Visit the Environment Agency website or call our 24 hour Floodline on 0845 988 1188 to find out if you are at risk of flooding
• Find out if flood warnings are available in your area
• Make sure you understand the flood warning codes so you know what to do when a flood warning is issued

If floods are imminent, people must:

• Co-operate with emergency services and local authorities - you may be evacuated
• Turn off gas, electricity and water supplies at the mains. Find out where these are well in advance
• Put plugs into sinks and weigh them down with something heavy
• Move sentimental items like photographs upstairs and think about storing them more safely in future in case you forget or don't have time to move them during a flood
• Move as many possessions upstairs as you can

How do I stay safe in a flood?

Here is some general advice:

• Switch off water, gas, and electricity supplies at the first sign of flooding to your property.
• Move your family and pets upstairs or to higher ground if threatened by floods. Move anything you can upstairs if possible.
• Don't try to walk or drive through floodwater. Only 6 inches of fast flowing water can knock you over. Two feet of water will float your car. If you must go through floodwater, remember to go very slowly.
• Never try to swim in fast flowing water - you may be swept away or be struck by an object in the water.
• Manhole covers can be lifted in a flood and there may be other hazards you can't see.
• Avoid contact with floodwater - it may be contaminated with sewage.
• Don't walk on sea defences, riverbanks or cross river bridges if possible - they may collapse in extreme situations or you may be swept off by large waves. Beware of stones and pebbles being thrown up by waves