Emergency plan

The response to any emergency may be divided broadly into phases, regardless of the scale:

6.1 Activation and Response

The initial response will involve the protection of life, property, and the environment, and will primarily be the responsibility of the emergency services, supported by local authority and other organisations. Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s role will be focused on mobilising staff, such as Incident Liaison Officers, building control officers, and staff involved in supporting the evacuation and shelter of residents (e.g. through opening or supporting Emergency Assistance Centres). In the period of consolidation, the emergency services will consolidate procedures and measures implemented in the initial response, whilst local authority and others begin to play an everincreasing role by providing a variety of support, services and resources on request.

6.2 Recovery

Once the risk to life or property has abated and the emergency services have begun to scale down their operations, including withdrawal from the scene, the local authority will be fully involved with organising and implementing recovery measures. Please note the recovery will start before the official handover from the response stage to the recovery phrase. Lead agency status for recovery will normally be with Surrey County Council, however in some incidents, particularly where they are isolated within the Borough, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council may be expected to take on this Lead Agency role. This discussion with Surrey County Council needs to happen at an early stage.

The Chief Executive will decide on the timing of the stand down of the response, and whether any on-going action is required (e.g. close the BECC - Borough Emergency Coordination Centre and co-ordinate via the teleconference). It is important that decisions are made, logged and staff/partners advised regarding the change in level of the response.

It is important to ensure that any learning that comes out of responding to an incident is identified and consideration given to better methods of working. There are a number of ways of doing this.

Options include:

• Hot debrief as soon as incident is over (or at shift changes if the incident is protracted)
• Feedback forms
• Focus groups
• Structured debrief

AR will produce a report and once agreed will monitor to ensure recommendations are actioned. There will also be a multi-agency debrief – however, depending on the nature of the incident this might take place sometime afterwards, and may be limited in scope if inquiries or inquests are taking place.