Lesson 4 – Community activities during an emergency

In times of emergency, communities can become an essential partner in responding to a situation. It is important that community groups work alongside emergency responders in a way that results in the best possible outcome for those in need. In an emergency, your local responders may want to share information with the community or sometimes to find out from your group what is happening at the scene.

Communicating

Connect with your local authority lead on community resilience and let them know your group can help. This might be the emergency planning team, a communities team, or a local area or ward manager. You should already be in touch with the relevant authorities before an emergency occurs as part of your planning activities.

Let the community know that the group is available to help and what it is equipped to do. This can be done through the communication channels that work best in the community, for example group messaging, social media or posters placed in a central location. It is really important that these communication channels are accessed before emergencies occur, so residents are aware of the group and its capabilities.

Information gathering and sharing

Community groups may have up-to-date, on-the-ground knowledge about how the emergency is impacting the local area and residents. This information could prove vital, so it is important that it is passed on to your established contacts in emergency responder organisations. When sharing and gathering information it is important that only the most relevant and accurate information is being shared. Care is required when dealing with sensitive information.

Fast-paced emergencies can result in a lot of confusion and the circulation of inaccurate information, which can lead to challenges in being able to provide the key information about an incident. Community groups are often in a unique and important position of being able to act as a trusted source for accurate and unbiased local information to share.

Responding to the emergency

The way a group responds to an emergency will depend on the needs of the community, what the group is able to do with its available resources, and its connections with the Local Authority. For example, this may include checking on residents and bringing essential supplies, helping to clear snow or grit paths, or setting up and staffing a local rest centre.

Community groups should ensure that, in the event of an emergency, any steps being taken are sensible, legal and safe, avoiding any unnecessary risks. This is why plans created in advance are important, with a suitable risk assessment completed for your volunteers.

Where it is unsafe to take actions in response to an emergency, duties should be deferred to emergency responders only.