Lesson 2 – Partnership working in a real emergency

This lesson looks at who might be involved in responding to an emergency, how they know what is going on, and how a coordinated response can take place.

How does partnership working apply in real-life situations?

Flooding is an example of an emergency situation which we have seen in Scotland.

You can find examples of how different groups and organisations can respond to flooding below.

Community and local businesses

Understanding the danger and activating their household, business and community resilience plans. For example, following flooding alerts and moving vehicles to higher ground (if it is safe to do so), ensuring that essential items are safe from floodwater, or using property level flood protection measures if they are available.

If it is safe to do so, community groups can help to move people, pets and essential items to safety. Sharing trusted information with each other through available communication methods, such as word of mouth, phone groups, social media or online, and contacting emergency services for support.

Community and voluntary organisations

Working with responders and helping the community directly, supporting the emergency services or coordinating with emergency services to help those in danger.

These may include organisations focussed on emergency response such as Search and Rescue, 4x4 teams, humanitarian response groups, or others who have an ongoing and close relationship with people in the affected community such as Community Councils, resident groups and faith groups, who may for example provide hot food or shelter.

Local authorities

Working with communities and supporting local residents to ensure support is coordinated. Reaching out to those in most need of help and thinking ahead to the community’s needs in order to recover from the situation. They will also be working closely with emergency services to provide on-the-ground support.

Health and social care staff and volunteers

Responding to emergency calls and treating people in hospitals. Considering the needs of the most vulnerable people within a community.

Other resilience partners

Providing specialist advice and on-the-ground support. This could include environmental agencies and key infrastructure organisations who may be redirecting road traffic in the wider area, dealing with power or water-related issues, and preparing for the consequences to come.

Local Resilience Partnership

In an emergency lots of information will be flowing between all of the groups listed above. The Local Resilience Partnership, which will include representation from all these groups, will allow everyone to see which activities are taking place. This will enable them to coordinate and target support where needed, identify any potential issues arising, consider any further consequences, and connect with other resilience partners in different areas if needed.