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Emergency planning

Parish and town councils are important in emergency planning and community safety. They often focus on local needs and ensure their communities are resilient and prepared to face emergencies. They are the closest form of government to local communities. While their formal powers in emergency management may be limited compared to principal authorities, they can still play a key role in supporting and coordinating local efforts.

Here are some specific ways they contribute to emergency planning and community safety:

  • Identify vulnerable individuals — Parish and town councils often know the elderly, disabled, or isolated individuals in the community who may need extra support in an emergency.
  • Support communication — Parish and town councils can ensure that information flows effectively between the local community, emergency services, and others by maintaining local noticeboards, websites, and social media platforms.
  • Assist emergency services — By providing information about local geography, infrastructure, and the whereabouts of critical resources or people, parish and town councils can help emergency services respond more effectively.
  • Roles and responsibilities — Identifying key individuals (including councillors and volunteers) who will take specific actions during an emergency.
  • Local resources — Cataloging available resources, such as buildings that could serve as shelters (e.g. village halls), vehicles, or equipment that might be useful in a crisis.
  • Evacuation routes and assembly points — Establishing safe locations for community members to gather in case of evacuation.
  • Coordination of community volunteers — For instance, organising a flood warden scheme or neighbourhood watch groups to support local safety and readiness.
  • Training and awareness — Providing or facilitating training for local volunteers on first aid, emergency response, or communication during crises.
  • Supporting vulnerable residents — Ensuring that vulnerable residents receive essential supplies, welfare checks, and assistance during emergencies (e.g. snowstorms or heat waves).
  • Participate in local resilience forums — Multi-agency partnerships between local authorities, emergency services, health services, and the voluntary sector that help coordinate emergency responses.
  • Fire safety awareness: Encouraging households to install and maintain smoke alarms, educating the public on fire safety in homes and public spaces, and running workshops.
  • Personal and home security — Partnering with police or other local organisations to promote neighbourhood watch schemes or crime prevention advice.
  • Flood prevention and awareness: Working with principal authorities to support flood defences, planning decisions that mitigate flood risk or distributing information about flood preparedness and the importance of signing up for flood alerts.
  • Green infrastructure — Promoting tree planting, improved drainage, or other environmental measures to reduce local climate risks.

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