North Wales PREPARING FOR EMERGENCIES Contents introduction 4 flooding 6 severe weather 8 pandemic 10 terrorist incidents 12 industrial incidents 14 loss of critical infrastructure 16 animal disease 18 pollution 20 transport incidents 22 being prepared in the home 24 businesses being prepared 26 want to know more? 28 Published: Autumn 2020 introduction As part of the work of agencies involved in responding the counties of Cheshire and data), which is largely preparing for emergencies to emergencies – the Shropshire) and to the South by concentrated in the more across the region, key emergency services, local the border with mid-Wales industrial and urbanised areas partners work together to authorities, health, environment (specifically the counties of of the North East and along prepare the North Wales and utility organisations. Powys and Ceredigion). the North Wales coast. The Community Risk Register. population increases significantly The overall purpose is to ensure The land area of North Wales is during summer months. Less This document provides representatives work together to approximately 6,172 square than a quarter (22.32%) of the information on the biggest achieve an appropriate level of kilometres (which equates to total Welsh population lives in emergencies that could happen preparedness to respond to 29% of the total land area of North Wales. in the region and includes the emergencies that may have a Wales), and the coastline is impact on people, communities, significant impact on the almost 400 kilometres long. Over the following pages, we the environment and local communities of North Wales. will look at the key risks we face North Wales is divided into six businesses. These risks are in North Wales; explain what the North Wales Area Profile counties - Anglesey, Gwynedd, regularly reviewed and listed on agencies involved in responding Located on the west of the Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire the regional Risk Register. to emergencies are doing to plan British Isles, North Wales is and Wrexham. The Risk Register is compiled for these risks and provide bound on the north and west by by the North Wales Resilience North Wales has a total resident advice on how you can the Irish Sea, to the east by the Forum which is made up of population of 694,826 (2016 prepare. border with England (specifically representatives of the main Office for National Statistics 4 5 Consequences: The predicted impacts could include: u Risk to life (people and animals). u Damage to property, businesses, agricultural land, roads, structures and infrastructure. u Pollution and contamination of local environments. u Long term damage to tourism, businesses and agriculture. What are we doing What should in North Wales? you do? u Monitoring forecasts and u Find out if your property is at providing timely warnings to risk of flooding. those at risk. u Sign-up to receive flood flooding u Strategic planning to protect warnings by phone, text or the areas at risk and email. Flooding has been identified As well as the immediate effect maintaining sea defences. u Consider how you can protect as a very high risk for the on people’s daily lives when u Working together to help your own property. If there’s North Wales area, with 53,860 flooding hits and the possibility minimise disruption to critical time and it’s safe for you to do properties across the region of evacuation is imminent, the services. so, fit any flood protection products you have available. at risk of flooding. work of recovering from wide u Working with partners to raise scale flooding can last long after u Check with your insurance Storm surges which raise awareness of flood risk and water levels have subsided. company that your policy high tide levels can affect many steps they can take to covers flooding. coastal communities and lead With climate change projections prepare themselves for u Where possible, move valuable to overtopping of existing sea- indicating that we can expect to flooding. items to upper floors during see more frequent and severe defences. This results in the times of flood risk. flooding of residential and storms and an increase in sea u Check forecasts and heed any commercial properties. levels, it is likely that coastal warnings. flooding will become more There is also a risk of river u If it’s safe to do so, check on common in years to come. flooding caused by excess vulnerable neighbours and rainfall. relatives. u Visit www.naturalresources. wales/flooding for advice and guidance. 6 7 severe weather Consequences: u Travel disruption. Severe weather can cause The main types of severe u Vulnerable / older people can suffer from the effects of cold or significant problems and weather that we plan for excessive heat. disruption to our everyday include storms and gales; u Disruption to utilities. lives. low temperatures with heavy u School closures. snow or ice; and heatwaves. u Slips / falls. North Wales has experienced u Collisions. most of these during the past few years and forecasters What are we doing What should suggest that severe weather in North Wales? you do? events are likely to become u Monitoring the forecasts all u Check weather forecast and more common in the future. year round. heed any warnings. u Working together to help u Plan your journeys / activities minimise disruption to critical accordingly. services. u Check on older neighbours u Designing and planning our and relatives. services to be resilient. u Take action - keep warm or u Gritting and ploughing of keep hydrated. designated routes. u Avoid non-essential journeys 8 during times of severe weather. 9 Consequences: Many millions of people around the world can become infected by a pandemic. Up to half the UK population may become infected and between 50,000 and 750,000 additional deaths may occur by the end of a pandemic. Normal life is likely to face wide disruption, particularly due to staff shortages affecting the provision of essential services, including production and transport of goods. What are we doing Things you in North Wales? can do: u As the Covid-19 pandemic u In the event of a pandemic, has shown, the NHS has follow the latest guidance arrangements in place to from health authorities. work with a wide-range of u Keep healthy - a healthy a pandemic partners to manage increased lifestyle is a great defence A pandemic occurs when a The spread of the Covid-19 demand on health care against flu and other illnesses. virus emerges which is able to Coronavirus has demonstrated services. u Identify a flu friend - somebody who is well who spread from person to person. the unpredictability of the u Partners work to distribute would help you if you caught Most people don’t have impact of pandemics. This virus medicines and vaccinating pandemic flu by collecting immunity, and the virus spreads has impacted upon the lives of those at risk, as soon as an your medication, food and across the world. millions of people across the appropriate vaccine is other necessities for you. globe and has led to the death produced, in the event of a Large numbers of people may of hundreds of thousands of u If eligible, have your free become infected by this new pandemic. people. seasonal flu vaccine every virus over a relatively short u Plans and procedures are year. period of time. tested and reviewed and u Flu vaccinations may also be Unlike a normal flu virus, which improvements identified and available for those who aren’t occurs during the winter implemented. eligible for a free vaccine. months, a pandemic can occur u Plans and procedures are Details will be available at at any time in one or more tested and reviewed and your local community waves, possibly weeks or improvements identified pharmacy. u months apart. and implemented. To avoid spreading flu germs, cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze and wash your hands. 10 11 Consequences: u Whilst attacks of this nature are still very rare in the UK, recent events at home and abroad have meant that people are understandably concerned about firearms or weapons attacks. u The impact and consequences of a terror attack would be wide ranging and irrevocable. u Mass fatalities, widespread injury, fear and worry and damage to property or infrastructure are all possibilities. What are we doing u If there’s nowhere to go, then in North Wales? hide. It’s better to hide than confront the attackers. u The police lead all planning in u relation to counter terrorism Remember to turn your mobile phone to silent and terrorist incidents but key partners work with them to help reduce the risk turn off the vibrate setting. Over recent times, the issue of caught up in a terror attack is and ensure the protection of u Barricade yourself in if you terrorist attacks has regularly very small, the threat from the public by supporting the can. been in the news. But it’s been terrorism is very real. national Counter Terrorism u Then finally, and only when it on the agenda for the police Terrorists work to damage Strategy. is safe to do so, tell the police and security service for much communities. However, by by calling 999. longer. They have been working working together communities Things you If you are asked to evacuate – constantly to foil terrorists for can tackle the problem so that can do: many years. everyone can go about their follow all instructions from the everyday lives freely and with If you see or hear something that emergency services. Whilst the probability of getting confidence. could be terrorist related, trust your instincts and call the confidential anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789321.