Wednesday 20 Feb 2008 @ 16:58
West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police
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Be Prepared For Emergencies
Emergency planning is the focus of a new website launched today by the West Yorkshire Resilience Forum.
Help to prepare householders for a major incident or emergency is contained on the site - www.westyorksprepared.gov.uk. The information aims to help people make their own plans to ensure their families would be safe and well-informed during an emergency situation affecting their community.
It covers issues such as establishing key contacts, making an emergency list and what items to gather as well as what to do in particular emergencies.
Members of the Resilience Forum include the blue light services, local authorities, health services and the Environment Agency. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 required these partner agencies to work on the risks and emergencies that might be faced in West Yorkshire. They also work together to develop robust plans to deal with any emergency eventuality in the county.
Helen Brighton, Emergency Planning Officer for Wakefield Council and a member of the Resilience Forum, said: "We want everyone to think about emergency situations before they happen and to have information in advance about what to do and where to go to find help and advice. Being prepared means everyone will be as safe as possible in an emergency situation if it should happen.
"A lot of this information is based on common sense advice and may seem obvious or familiar, but it has saved lives in the past.
"All the agencies in West Yorkshire who look after communities before, during and after unexpected events are working together to make sure everyone is as well prepared as possible for emergencies. The Resilience Forum has the plans in place to be able to respond effectively in any major incident or emergency.
"People shouldn't be alarmed - they should feel reassured that we take a proactive approach to managing emergencies.
"The plans vary according to the situation, which is why we regularly test and challenge ourselves in line with the different scenarios.
"The introduction of the website is a major development within emergency planning but it is just one of a number of ways we are using to communicate with people."
There are numerous emergencies that fall under the emergency planning remit including industrial accidents, transport incidents, explosions, major public order incidents, weather emergencies and many more.
Help to prepare householders for a major incident or emergency is contained on the site - www.westyorksprepared.gov.uk. The information aims to help people make their own plans to ensure their families would be safe and well-informed during an emergency situation affecting their community.
It covers issues such as establishing key contacts, making an emergency list and what items to gather as well as what to do in particular emergencies.
Members of the Resilience Forum include the blue light services, local authorities, health services and the Environment Agency. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 required these partner agencies to work on the risks and emergencies that might be faced in West Yorkshire. They also work together to develop robust plans to deal with any emergency eventuality in the county.
Helen Brighton, Emergency Planning Officer for Wakefield Council and a member of the Resilience Forum, said: "We want everyone to think about emergency situations before they happen and to have information in advance about what to do and where to go to find help and advice. Being prepared means everyone will be as safe as possible in an emergency situation if it should happen.
"A lot of this information is based on common sense advice and may seem obvious or familiar, but it has saved lives in the past.
"All the agencies in West Yorkshire who look after communities before, during and after unexpected events are working together to make sure everyone is as well prepared as possible for emergencies. The Resilience Forum has the plans in place to be able to respond effectively in any major incident or emergency.
"People shouldn't be alarmed - they should feel reassured that we take a proactive approach to managing emergencies.
"The plans vary according to the situation, which is why we regularly test and challenge ourselves in line with the different scenarios.
"The introduction of the website is a major development within emergency planning but it is just one of a number of ways we are using to communicate with people."
There are numerous emergencies that fall under the emergency planning remit including industrial accidents, transport incidents, explosions, major public order incidents, weather emergencies and many more.
