Emergency Planning

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Southampton City Council's Emergency Planning Unit works with the other responders within Southampton to help increase emergency preparedness within the city. Even though we can’t prevent some emergencies happening, we can plan ahead to minimise their impact.

These pages highlight some of the key risks visible to the City of Southampton, explaining how we work alongside the emergency services and other agencies to prepare for potential emergencies.

Even though we’re working to be prepared, there are things you can do to help keep yourself and your family safe and your home more resilient, should an emergency occur. In these pages we’ve outlined simple steps to help you prepare. A few minutes thinking about it now could make a big difference to the outcome of the emergency for you and your family.

Children can also prepare for emergencies and in the young persons section there are links to games that test what you would do in an emergency.

Finally, businesses can increase their resilience ensuring that should an emergency occur, they suffer as little disruption as possible.

Thank you for taking the time to explore these pages and please make sure yourself and your family are well-prepared.

Emergency Planning

1. What planning does the Council undertake to deal with a major emergency or disaster?

Southampton City Council recognises the importance of Emergency Planning. It has a dedicated team including an Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Manager and two Emergency Planning Officer posts.

The team is in constant liaison with emergency services and other agencies.
A Major Incident Plan has been prepared.
There is an Emergency Team of professionals and volunteers from council staff to respond to incidents at any time.
Regular Exercising and training is undertaken.

2. How does the Council respond to the possibility of a terrorist attack?

Whilst there is no reason to suspect that Southampton is any more at risk of terrorism than other locations, the council works closely with the police and other emergency services to reduce the possibility and consequences of such incidents. By virtue of the city's strategic location and high urban density we remain vigilant. All council resources are available to support the police and emergency services in the unlikely event of such an attack occurring. Further information can be found via the link to the Government Prevent website which is located at the bottom of the page.

3. Does the Council supply sandbags to commercial or domestic premises?

The city council does not normally provide sandbags to the public. Businesses should prepare for flooding and include their arrangements within their own Busines Continuity Plans.

Householders should consider purchasing sand & sandbags from local builders merchants before any flooding event arises. Especially if their property is in a known flood risk area. Modern expanding lightweight bags are also available - see the 'What You Can Do - Flooding' section 'Blue pages' link and the Environment Agency website - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31644.aspx

4. Who else may be able to supply sandbags?

Some local companies are:

Jewson (Woolston & Thornhill)
Travis Perkins (Albert Road)
Build Centre (Knowle Hill, Eastleigh)

Others are available see Yellow Pages.

5. Can I store sandbags for re-use and are old sandbags collected by the Council?

Sandbags cannot usually be reused as they would be contaminated if exposed to flood water. If unused but kept in the open for an extended period, the bag may eventually deteriorate. They are also heavy to lift once filled with sand.

Skips may be provided by the Council to collect old sandbags depending on the nature and scale of the flooding.

6. What planning does the Council undertake to deal with a major emergency or disaster?

Southampton City Council recognises the importance of Emergency Planning. It has a dedicated team including an Emergency Planning & Business Continuity Manager and two Emergency Planning Officer posts.

The team is in constant liaison with emergency services and other agencies. A Major Incident Plan has been written. There is an Emergency Team of professionals and volunteers from council staff to respond to incidents at any time. Regular Exercising and training is undertaken.

Contact information

Contact details for this page are:

emergency.planning@southampton.gov.uk
023 8083 2427
Emergency Planning, City Depot and Recycling Park First Avenue, Southampton, SO15 0LJ

For any other council related enquiries please contact:

enquiries@southampton.gov.uk
023 8083 3000
General Enquiries Civic Centre, SO14 7LY

Emergency Planning