Emergency Planning
Thankfully, major emergencies are rare, but when they do occur we have a number of plans to ensure that it responds accordingly and that essential services can be maintained to a reasonable level during any incident.
We are required to provide local arrangements for emergencies, in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, to keep residents safe and provide aftercare and support for those who have been affected by an incident.
During an emergency our delegated officers are responsible for coordinating the council's response.
We are part of the West Mercia Local Resilience Forum (WMLRF) partnership, made up of all the organisations needed to prepare for and respond to any major emergency in the area.
The aim of the WMLRF is: To ensure that there is an appropriate level of preparedness to enable an effective multi-agency response to emergency incidents, which have a significant impact on the communities of the WMLRF.
If you’re a parish council looking for a template to help create your own Community Emergency Plan, please get in touch with the Emergency Planning Team. Email
What is Emergency Planning?
Emergency planning should aim where possible to prevent emergencies occurring and, when they do occur, good planning should reduce, control or mitigate the effects of the emergency.
It is a systematic, ongoing process which should evolve and develop as lessons are learnt and circumstances change.
Our Roles and Responsibilities
- Risk Assessment
- Business Continuity Management
- Emergency Planning
- Rest Centre Provision
- Maintaining public awareness and arrangements to warn, inform and advise the public
- Provision of advice and assistance to the commercial sector and voluntary organisations
- Co-operation and information sharing.
How to Prepare
- Community Risk Register | West Mercia Police – WMLRF provides information to help you understand the risks that could occur in your area to help you be better prepared.
- How to Help Yourself in an Emergency (opens in a new window) – Worcestershire County Council provides a list of top tips to make sure you are prepared and ready for whenever an emergency may occur.
- The Government ‘Prepare’ campaign aims to increase individual and community resilience.
- Weather Warnings (opens in a new window) – Sign up to the free Met Office email alert service to receive weather warnings in your local area.
- Get flood warnings by text, phone or email - GOV.UK – Find out if your area is at risk of flooding and sign up to the free Environmental Agency flood warning service. For information on how to deal with flooding, visit Flooding and land drainage.
Key accounts to sign up to on X:
@WorcsCC – Worcestershire County Council
@EnvAgencyMids – Environmental Agency Midlands
@WMerciaPolice – West Mercia Police
@HWfire – Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service
@WorcsTravel – Worcestershire County Council Highways and Travel
Emergency Contacts
If you are in immediate danger and need an ambulance, police or fire service call 999.
- Contact National Grid for electricity supply issues or call 105.
- Contact Cadent Gas for Gas supply issues or if you smell gas or call 0800 111 999.
- Contact Severn Trent Water for water supply issues or call 0800 783 4444
Page updated August 2026