Preparing for civil emergencies in Argyll and Bute

Preparing for Civil Emergencies in Argyll and Bute

The information in these pages has been put together by Argyll and Bute Civil Contingencies Unit to provide you and your family with information and awareness on emergency incidents and their affect on you.  Events/incidents/emergencies can happen at any time.

There is no special knowledge required for you to be ready for most types of emergency, just take time to make preparations.  This guide will help you.

Get Ready

A civil emergency can be declared by the police or fire service when the situation surrounding different types of incident escalates to involve large number of people or a major threat to many properties.

An emergency situation can arise from any of the following:

• Severe weather
• Road traffic crashes
• Utility failures (water, power, gas)
• Chemical/Oil spill
• Fires
• Explosions
• Flooding
• Terrorist action or threat

Or a combination of the above

Argyll and Bute Council works closely with neighbouring local authorities, partner and third sector organisations in writing, testing and reviewing contingency plans every day.  Civil Contingencies in Argyll and Bute is about reducing the likelihood and impact of an emergency occurring in the area.  The risks that have been identified in the area can be found on the Community Risk Register.

Ready at Home

If an emergency is declared in all or part of Argyll and Bute it could affect you in a number of ways.

These include:

• Loss of electricity, telephone, water or gas;
• Short term evacuation from your home
• Temporary isolation cutting off communities
• Damage to your home or buildings adjoining or near to your home
• Injury, severe illness or death of members of your family or the wider community

If there is an emergency, dial 999 and ask to speak to the appropriate service.  The emergency services deal with hazardous and dangerous situations on a daily basis and they are best equipped to handle them.

If an emergency is declared that affects you, you will be notified by the police.  Up to date information on the situation, including advice on what you should do and where to get further details will be broadcast on local radio and television channels and websites.  Try to ensure that you have a battery powered radio for updates in case there is a loss of power.

Local Radio Stations in the Argyll and Bute area are as follows:

• Your Radio (103 & 106.9 FM)   
• Argyll FM (106.5/107.1 & 107.7 FM) 
• Bute FM (96.5 FM)    
• Clyde 1 (102.5 FM) 

As part of emergency preparations at home you could create an emergency box.  Small enough to carry and stored in a safe place that everyone in your home can access quickly and more importantly know where it is.  Suggested items could include:

• Prescriptions or medicines
• Telephone numbers, insurances and reference numbers for utility companies
• Toiletries
• Contact lenses or glasses
• First aid kit
• Battery powered radio, torch and spare batteries
• Notebook and pen/pencil
• Mobile phone charger

Ready Family

Ensure that you and your family are prepared.

• Pre arrange meeting points where members of your family and those close to you can gather in an emergency.
• Identify, friends or relatives who could offer accommodation to you if you ever required it.
• If using telephones and mobile phones make conversations short because during emergencies systems can become overloaded.
• Consider your pets, identify what they might need if you take them with you at short notice.

Argyll and Bute Council has a list of emergency centres which can provide shelter for displaced members of the public on a temporary basis.  If you are evacuated or directed to one of these centres you will be asked to register by providing your name and address.  If you have any specific needs they will be identified upon registration at this centre and the staff can ensure that your needs are catered for.  Once you have been registered at this centre then you are accounted for and your loved ones can then find out that you are safe.

These centres are usually set up by the Council and we try at all times to make them as comfortable as possible.

Alternatively your home insurance policy may cover temporary accommodation in an emergency situation.  Check!

If you wish any further information, help or guidance on preparing for emergencies, please contact the Civil Contingencies Unit

Many communities of Argyll and Bute are now preparing emergency plans.

The Scottish Government also provides information on preparing for emergencies.

Clyde Off-Site Emergency Plan

The Clyde off-site emergency plan is designed to cover radiation emergencies at HM Naval Base Clyde and associated operational berths.  This plan is informed by a series of consequences reports produced by the operator (Royal Navy).

Argyll and Bute Council and emergency services have statutory duties under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR 2019) to plan and prepare for the unlikely event of a radiation emergency.

Information leaflets on “What to do in a radiation emergency” have been prepared and distributed to those households within the Detailed Emergency Planning Zones (DEPZ’s) which are outlined within the Clyde Off Site Emergency Plan.

For access to the plan, consequences reports and leaflets please contact the Council Resilience team.