NELFT SPECIFIC EMERGENCY PLANS
FLOOD RESPONSE
PROCEDURES
V3
About this Plan:
This plan provides the framework for coordinating the Trust’s response to flooding. It is not a standalone
document and supplements the Trust’s existing Major Incident and Business Continuity procedures by
providing additional information and guidance specific in managing flooding in accordance with national
guidance.
Find out the latest flood warnings at - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31618.aspx
DOCUMENT DETAIL:
Document Name
Author
Executive Lead
Date of Issue
Reporting
NELFT Flood Response Procedures
Version 3
Nicky Mclean
Jacqui Van Rossum
October 2014
Review Date September 2015
All specific emergency plans are included in the Trust’s Annual Resilience Board Report and are reviewed at
the Trust wide Resilience Group
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
1
CONTENTS
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 3
FLOOD PLANNING & ALERTS ...................................................................................................................... 3
2.1
PLANNING INFORMATION .............................................................................................................. 3
2.2
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FLOOD ALERTS ................................................................................... 3
2.3
TYPES OF FLOODING ..................................................................................................................... 4
2.4
WARNING & INFORMING ................................................................................................................ 4
FLOODING RESPONSE ARRANGEMENTS .................................................................................................. 5
3.1
MULTI AGENCY PLANNING ............................................................................................................ 5
3.2
PRIOR WARNING RECEIVED ......................................................................................................... 5
3.3
FLOOD EVENT OCCURRING .......................................................................................................... 5
COMMAND, CONTROL AND CO-ORDINATION .......................................................................................... 6
4.1
COMMAND AND CONTROL ............................................................................................................ 6
RECOVERY ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
APPENDIX A- Vulnerable People
Date
October
2014
October
2014
October
2013
December
2012
Version
V3.0
V3.0draft
V2.0
V1.0
Author
Nicky
Mclean
Nicky
Mclean
Nicky
Mclean
Mark
Haggerty
Version Control
Changes/ Reason
Annual review and update
Documents Replaced (if any)
NELFT Flood Plan v3draft
Annual review and update
NELFT Flood Plan v2
Annual review and update
NELFT Flood Plan v1
Updating previous NELFT flood procedures
All other flood response
procedures
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
2
1.0
INTRODUCTION
This plan provides the framework for coordinating the Trust’s response to a sudden or prolonged
period of flooding. It is not a standalone document and supplements the Trust’s existing Major
Incident and Business Continuity Plans by providing additional information and guidance specific to
mitigating, minimising and responding to the effects of flooding.
In line with national guidance the plan is:

Built on effective service and business continuity arrangements; and

Responsive to local challenges and needs.
When activated this plan contains procedures that allow the Trust to:

Receive and cascade Met office notifications;

Comply with any external reporting requirements (e.g., NHS England SitRep System) and
generate local situation reports;

Reduce impact;

Ensure that essential services are maintained;

Cope with localised disruptions to services;

Provide timely, authoritative and up-to-date information for staff; and
This plan like all the Trust’s emergency plans will be updated as new guidance is made available
and following recommendations from internal (or external) incidents and exercises. The plan will
also be updated following any changes to the services the Trust delivers.
2.0
FLOOD PLANNING & ALERTS
2.1
2.1.1
PLANNING INFORMATION
NELFT has actively participated in the development of all local Multi-Agency Flood Plans (MAPF).
The Plans are maintained by local authorities/councils and are ratified by the Borough Resilience
Forums. All Multi-agency flood plans detail NELFTs response actions to any perceived or actual
flooding incident. The plans can be found on the ‘e’ drive, SharePoint and hardcopies held within
the incident coordination centres.
2.1.2
In the event of a flooding incident occurring internally within a NELFT site (i.e. a burst water pipe)
dependant on the severity and impact upon services business continuity plans should be referred
to.
2.2
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY FLOOD ALERTS
The Environment Agency provides flood alerts when rivers are likely to flood. The alerts that it
provides are detailed below:
Flood Alert - Flooding is possible and you need to be prepared
Flood Warning - Flooding is expected and you should take immediate action.
Impact on the ground will include flooded homes, businesses and infrastructure
Severe Flood Warning - there is severe flooding and danger to life. Impact on the
ground will include deep and fast flowing water, potential collapse of structures,
critical resources disabled, large towns isolated and large volumes of evacuees
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
3
2.3
TYPES OF FLOODING
Flooding is a natural phenomenon, which cannot be entirely prevented. Various mechanisms may
cause flooding and a range of factors affects the frequency and severity of a flood event. Human
influences, such as inadequate drainage systems and suppression of flood plains, exacerbate the
problem.
2.3.1
Fluvial Flooding
Fluvial Flooding is over-flowing waterways – that is most likely to occur due to heavy rainfall
upstream. This type of flooding is modelled and mapped by the environment agency and flood
alerts can be issued to properties in a flood zone area. As part of the business continuity business
impact assessment, all sites can be assessed using the Environment Agency postcode checkerhttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/31650.aspx
2.3.2
Pluvial Flooding
Pluvial Flooding is flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall in a short time-scale or onto
saturated ground. This form of flooding may affect any site.
2.3.3
Groundwater flooding
Groundwater flooding occurs when a rise in groundwater level is sufficient for the water table to
intersect the ground surface and inundate low lying areas. This tends to occur after much longer
periods of sustained rainfall. Higher rainfall means more water will infiltrate the ground, thus
causing the water table to rise above normal levels.
2.3.3
Coastal Flooding
Coastal Flooding in the London/Essex area is tidal flooding along the Thames and its tributaries;
most likely to occur around the spring and autumn high tides. The impact will be in the same
areas as identified for fluvial flooding.
2.4
2.4.1
WARNING & INFORMING
All Category 1 responders have a duty to maintain arrangements to warn the public if an
emergency is likely or has already occurred. In the case of a flooding incident, the lead agency for
carrying out this duty will change as the incident progresses. Prior to an incident, the Environment
Agency will be the lead agency. During an incident, the police will be the lead agency while in the
recovery phase the local Council will act as the lead agency.
The Trust will coordinate our warning and informing activities to ensure that residents, staff, carers
and relatives receive consistent, accurate information and advice. Good coordination will prevent
agencies issuing conflicting messages.
2.4.2
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency provides an extensive flood warning service for emergency responders
and for the public. The Environment Agency also provides a telephone information line for the
public to call before, during and after flooding.
The Floodline telephone numbers are: 0345 988 1188 or 0845 988 1188.
2.4.3
During the response to a flooding incident, the Police will act as the lead agency for warning and
informing the public. A Police communications officer will coordinate with other agencies to ensure
that messages given to the public are consistent.
2.4.4
Employees must be given up-to-date information about the response. If staff are well-informed,
their family and friends are more likely to be well-informed too. Staff who are well-informed will also
understand better how they can support the emergency response
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
4
3.0
FLOODING RESPONSE ARRANGEMENTS
3.1
MULTI AGENCY PLANNING
Flooding incidents are often preceded by advanced warnings that give agencies a chance to
mitigate the impact and prepare their response. The local Multi-Agency Flood Plans gives details of
these warning systems and explains how responders will respond to warnings proportionately and
effectively.
Multi-Agency Flood Plans do not require any other agencies to take actions as a result of a Flood
Alert (partial activation) although in some circumstances agencies may feel that preparatory actions
are appropriate
3.2
PRIOR WARNING RECEIVED
If a credible advanced warning is received this will alert the Trust that there is the potential for
flooding to occur. In this phase, local councils will monitor the risks more closely, keep multi
agency partners informed of the developing situation and prepare the Council’s response.
Multiagency partners will be asked to acknowledge receipt of advanced warnings and take any
preparatory actions they deem necessary. In addition the following actions will be taken;
 The Emergency Preparedness Team will disseminate information to relevant teams/services
and on-call teams as necessary
 Site staff to check that any drains outside their premises are free of debris that could block them
and result in flooding (visual check by walk around site perimeter) - should any potential
blockages be identified, the Maintenance contractor for the site should be notified and they will
make arrangements for clearance.
 Continuity Leads to familiarise themselves with their Business Continuity Plans.
 On-Call staff to familiarise themselves with the Corporate Business Continuity Plan and the
health actions detailed in the relevant Multi-Agency Flood Plans (copies held on the ‘e’ drive
and SharePoint).
3.3
FLOOD EVENT OCCURRING
Each flooding incident is different and the priorities of the response will vary however there are
some priority tasks that are common to many flooding incidents. These are as follows;
 Affected services to consider activating their Business Continuity Plans if necessary and
escalating response as appropriate.
 If out of hours on-Call staff to be alerted by affected services, Local Area Team or Local
Authority.
 Director on-Call should consider whether to activate the Corporate Business Continuity Plan consider redeployment of essential staff to alternative work locations.
 Should the Trust be called upon to assist in a community emergency due to the flood event, oncall senior management staff should:
— consider whether the Trusts emergency response requires activation of the Incident
Coordination Centre (details of how to do this are in the On-Call Pack and the Major
Incident Plan)
— undertake any necessary actions outlined in the relevant Multi-Agency Flood Plan (as
above)
— manage the Trust’s response in support of the community and partner responders.
— identify all vulnerable persons. Information on vulnerable people is held by a number of
different responders. The response given to vulnerable people during a flooding incident
must be made a priority. When a major incident is declared, organisations that hold
information on vulnerable people must make this available to emergency responders.
Further details can be found at Appendix A.
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
5
4.0
COMMAND, CONTROL AND CO-ORDINATION
4.1
COMMAND AND CONTROL
The response to flooding will be managed though the predefined response actions until the point
that disruption internally or requests externally require the director on-call to declare a major
incident or invoke the Trust overarching business continuity plan. In such cases where this is
deemed necessary the relevant plan must be referred to.
5.0
RECOVERY
Recovery is defined as the process of rebuilding, restoring and rehabilitating the community
following an emergency. It is distinct from the response phase but recovery should be an integral
part of the response from the very beginning as actions taken during the response can influence
longer-term outcomes
Common recovery issues following flooding include:
 Humanitarian assistance needs including:
 Homeless or displaced residents
 Psychological impacts
 Restoration of utilities
 Repairs to infrastructure – schools, buildings, roads, bridges, etc.
 Clean up and waste disposal
 Domestic and business insurance needs
 Displaced businesses
 Environmental impacts
Should a flood affect the Trust’s operations, the Director on-Call is responsible for initiating and
managing the Trust’s recovery processes (as detailed in the NELFT Major Incident Plan and
NELFT Recovery Plan). This may involve co-ordinating the Trust’s response with a wider multiagency community recovery process led by the Local Authority.
Should the impact upon the Trust be significant, the Director on-Call should consider appointing a
Recovery Manager to co-ordinate the internal recovery process as a support to their overall
leadership of the incident.
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
6
Appendix A- Vulnerable People
People who are vulnerable are ‘less able to help themselves in the circumstances of an emergency’.
Emergency responders have a responsibility ‘to plan for and meet the needs of those who may be
vulnerable in emergencies’*.
The statutory guidance ‘Emergency Preparedness’ states that it is not easy to define in advance and for
planning purposes who are the vulnerable people to whom special consideration should be given in plans.
Those who are vulnerable will vary depending on the nature of the emergency. It then states that for
planning purposes there are broadly three categories that should be considered:



those who, for whatever reason, have mobility difficulties, including people with physical disabilities
or a medical condition and pregnant women
those with mental health difficulties
others who are dependent, such as children†
Others who should also be considered are as follows;



those who have mobility limitations or are supporting someone with mobility limitations (disabled, the
ill & parents nursing infants)
those that have limited ability to comprehend a risk / hazard or cannot understand a situation
because of language issues.
those in unfamiliar surroundings without friends and family or support nearby
If required, Local Councils, local health services, voluntary groups and utility companies can search their
databases for service users who may need extra help. The results of these searches can then be shared
with other agencies in the context of the response and recovery to the incident.
NELFT Severe Weather and Flood Procedures – Version 3
Date of Issue: October 2014
Review date: September 2015
7