Part of Guide to emergency planning for community groups


Templates

The following templates are a suggestion only and should be adapted to suit your group’s needs. Please feel free to use, change or add different information as you see fit.

Community Emergency Plan

Plan last updated on: xx/xx/xxxx

If you are in immediate danger call 999

Plan distribution list

Plan distribution list template
Name Role Phone number/email address Issued on
Enter name Enter role Enter details Enter date

For example, you may wish to include resilience representatives from:

  • your local authority
  • community council
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue community safety
  • Local Resilience Forum
  • key networks or groups in your local area such as a local school, parent council, church or other faith grou

Amendments to plan

Amendments to plan template
Name Details of changes made Changed by Date for next revision
Enter name Enter details Enter details Enter date

Local risk assessment

Local risk assessment template
Risks – including likelihood Impact on community / Vulnerability What can Community Emergency Group do to prepare?
Example: River through village can flood – every 2–3 years.

Example: Flooding of local streets

Example: Blocked access to community hall

Example: Damage to homes

Example: Encourage residents to improve home flood defences

Example: Work with local emergency responders to see if you can help with distribution of flood warnings and any evacuation and rest centre establishment required

Local skills and resources assessment

Local skills and resources assessment template
Skill/resource Name Contact details Location
Example: Trained first aider Example: Mr A. Sample Example: 0131 123 4567 Example: 1 Sample Street, Sampletown, SA1 2PL

Key locations

Identified and agreed with local authority for use as places of safety.

Key locations template
Building Location Potential usage in an emergency Contact details
Example: Church Hall Example: Sampleton Village Example: Rest Centre / safe place Example:

Church warden’s contact

Emergency contact list

  • Name:
  • Title:
  • 24hr telephone contact:
  • Email:
  • Address:
  • Photo:

Sample telephone tree

The phone tree works as a pyramid. The coordinator at the top makes the first call to two or more people. In turn, they call an assigned set of people and so on, until the tree is complete.

This process is illustrated in the following diagram.

A diagram showing an example telephone tree. The phone tree works as a pyramid. The coordinator at the top of the diagram with key group members listed underneath.

Remember to record both mobile and landline numbers if available.

Remember to record both mobile and landline numbers if available.

List of community organisations

Use this space to record details of organisations who work with people who may be vulnerable in an emergency.

Activation triggers

Use this space to record details of how your plan will be activated as a result of a call from the emergency responders, and also how your community will decide to activate the plan if the emergency responders are unavailable.

First steps in an emergency

Follow the instructions below when the plan is activated. The following checklist is an example only. You should create your own version as part of your plan.

First steps in an emergency checklist
Step Instructions Tick
1 Example: Call 999 (unless already alerted)
2 Example: Ensure you are in no immediate danger
3 Example: Contact the Community Emergency Group and meet to discuss the situation

Community emergency group meeting agenda

  • Agenda Date: Enter Date
  • Time: Enter Time
  • Location: Enter Details
  • Attendees: Enter Details

What is the current situation?

Enter Details. You might want to consider the following:

  • Location of the emergency. Is it near:
    • A school?
    • A vulnerable area?
    • A main access route?

Type of emergency

  • Is there a threat to life?
  • Has electricity, gas or water been affected?

Are there any vulnerable people involved?

  • Elderly
  • Families with children
  • Non-English-speaking people. What resources do we need? Food?
  • Off-road vehicles? Blankets? Shelter?

Establishing contact with the emergency responders

Enter details

How can we support the emergency responders?

Enter details

What actions can safely be taken?

Enter details

Who is going to take the lead for the agreed actions?

Enter details

Any other issues?

Enter details

Actions agreed with local authority in the event of an evacuation

[Use this space to record details of the actions you can take to help your local authority if an evacuation is necessary in your community.]

Alternative arrangements for staying in contact if usual communications have been disrupted

You should have a range of communications methods to keep in touch with members of the group and members of your wider community, for example a telephone tree with both landline and mobile phone numbers and social media tools such as a Facebook Group or Community page or a WhatsApp Group.

However, if those usual methods of communications have been disrupted, then please use this space to record details of alternative communications.

This could be anything from a community notice board, to including the owner/locations of long distance walkie-talkies or details of your local Radio Amateurs’ Emergency Network (RAYNET), or other radio amateurs in your community.

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