DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY EMERGENCY PLAN LIST OF CONTENTS – plan updated on 1/12/20 Subject Page no 1 Introduction 1.1 The Dartmoor National Park Authority 2 1.2 Administrative Headquarters Location 2 1.3 Responsibilities 2 1.4 Our role 3 1.5 Aim 4 1.6 Objectives 4 2 Implementation 2.1 Alerting Cascade 5 2.2 DNPA Emergency Team 5 2.3 Decision Making 5 3 Operation 3.1 Emergency team – guidance 6 3.2 Ranger Team 6 3.3 DNPA Base Teams and National Trust 7 4 Liaison 4.1 Liaison within the National Park Authority 7 4.2 Liaison with County Emergency Centre 7 4.3 Liaison with other organisations 8 4.4 Liaison with media and press 8 5 Resources 5.1 Human Resources 8 5.2 Material Resources 8 5.3 Communications 8 6 Administration 6.1 Finance 9 Appendix A Actions to be taken in the event of an incident 10 B Map of Ranger Sectors 11 C Equipment and materials 12 D Distribution List 13 E Draft snow press release 14 F Operational snow Plan 15 G Other information 16 1 DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY EMERGENCY PLAN 1 INTRODUCTION This guidance has been produced to provide a framework within which Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) acts jointly with other organisations or singly to deal with an emergency incident. No single arrangement will be appropriate to each and every disaster, nor will a single blueprint meet very need. The key to effective response is to apply sound principles, founded on experience, to the problem in hand. Disasters have a variety of effects on society (e.g. economic and emotional such as Foot and Mouth disease outbreak) and the environment (e.g. a major moorland fire). They demand a combined and co-ordinated response, linking the expertise and resources of emergency services and local authorities, supplemented as appropriate by other local and national organisations. 1.1 The Dartmoor National Park Authority The Dartmoor National Park Authority is an organisation that is concerned with the efficient running of the National Park as a major environmental resource within the county of Devon. The area covered is 368 square miles, it is criss-crossed by an extensive rights of way network and some 40% of the area is open country to which the public have legal access. There are approximately 33,000 residents and the area attract many millions of visitors throughout the year. 1.2 Administrative Headquarters Location a) The Authority’s administrative officers are based at Parke, Bovey Tracey, contactable on 01626 832093 [email protected] b) DNPA also has an office and information centre at Princetown, information centres at Postbridge and Haytor that may all be utilised as a base. 1.3 Responsibilities The DNPA role is defined by two statutory purposes: • Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the National Park • Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public In carrying out this work, we are also required to: • Seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park 2 1.4 Our role The DNPA is not an emergency service however we are part of the overarching Devon County Council (DCC) Emergency Plan. We are also partners in many other Emergency Plans constituted and organised by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS), Police, District Councils (DC`s), Highways Agency (HA), Ambulance Trusts (AT), Met Office (MO) and the Environment Agency (EA). Parish Councils are also being supported and encouraged to write their own emergency plans which will be integrated into District Council Plans. Within these the DNPA has a supporting and assisting community role undertaken predominately by the Ranger Service. National Park Authorities, like all statutory agencies are required by law to have regularly reviewed emergency plans and to work together with partners. To reflect this responsibility (and as good practice) DNPA has its own Emergency Plan. In compliance DNPA have designated an Emergency Officer (EO) and a Deputy Emergency Officer (DEO). In the event of a major incident it is the role of the EO and DEO to liaise with the emergency planning team at any Silver / Gold control. It is accepted operational procedure for only emergency officers to communicate with their equivalent officers in or at any emergency event / incident. This provides a standard of professionalism and understanding in the execution of the protocols / actions that DNPA staff maybe called onto undertake. It is within the spirit of partnership working and in the event of an emergency (in or around) the National Park boundary that the Authority’s role is to provide the appropriate assistance, knowledge and advice as requested by the various emergency services. General emergencies within the DNPA context arise under three headings: Heavy snow fall blocking roads - via Police, DCC or HA Severe and widespread flooding – via Police, DCC, HA or EA Storm force winds causing damage – via Police, DCC, HA, DC`s Specific emergencies requiring varying levels of DNPA assistance/back up: Moorland fires – via DSFRS, Police or landowner / commoner Animal, species disease and human related diseases – via Police, Natural England, or Devon County Council Personnel at risk – minor / major accident or critical mass event. This would include lost and injured people, raves, vehicle accidents, recreational pursuit’s accidents, aircraft crashes and potential unrest at Princetown prison. There is also potential for DNPA to help with instances of increases in radiation levels due to a nuclear accident elsewhere. Initial guidance to staff should they come across an incident in the execution of their duties can be at Appendix A 3 1.5 Aim In major emergency situations the County Council, in addition to the Emergency Services, has a significant role in co-ordinating the response of many services and voluntary organisations. However, an incident may occur locally or specifically to Dartmoor involving other lead organisations or the DNPA. It is the aim of DNPA to dovetail into whatever response is required and provide expert advice, knowledge and personnel support towards the relief of any emergency occurring within the boundaries of Dartmoor National Park and outside these boundaries when appropriate and requested, specifically: a) To support the emergency services involved. b) Provide support to the community and, c) Maintain normal services to unaffected areas 1.6 Objectives a) To provide senior officer support at the County Emergency Centre or any other partner agency / organisation base as required within a defined emergency. b) To maintain communications to the headquarters at Bovey Tracey and with partners as required under any related specific plan. c) To provide personnel and knowledge support in the field, and advisory and administrative support at the Park headquarters (at relevant information centre or another base) to assist an emergency. d) To provide an accurate register of all actions taken (to include potential costs) in preparation for debrief meetings / inquest and for possible recharging of costs both incurred and charged concerning the Authority’s responsibilities. 4 2 IMPLEMENTATIONS 2.1 Alerting Cascade To meet the objectives of the plan and dependant on the precise emergency, (experience shows that for most incidents the EO and DEO can deal with situation), however the following key personnel should be contacted as part of an alerting cascade relevant to all partnership organisations. Appointment Office Mobile Home Emergency Officer 01626 831052 07711856206 01626 824526 (EO) Robert Steemson (DEO) Simon Lee 01626 832330 07711104541 01647 253908 Chief Executive 01626 831004 07711104536 01364 661405 (CEO) Kevin Bishop Director of Conservation 01626 831011 07817 130114 01626 835232 & Sustainable Communities Alison Kohler Head of Communication, 01626 831044 07841 337669 01626 866870 Economy & Fundraising Sam Hill Head of Recreation, 01626 831057 07526329785 01626 835766 Access & Estates Andrew Watson 2.2 DNPA Emergency team The above posts will collectively create the basis of the DNPA Emergency team when appropriate and will in turn draw upon other professional officers as required. 2.3 Decision Making a) The decision to instigate DNPA general emergency procedures will be taken by the EO (or DEO), in consultation with the Chief Executive (CEO) (or deputy). The EO will be responsible for all specific emergency actions on the ground and will deploy staff and material resources as required whilst keeping CEO and / or Headquarters informed at appropriate times. b) In most cases the need to initiate elements of any emergency plan will be engineered by other partner agencies / organisations. 5 3 OPERATION 3.1 Emergency team and respondent’s guidance a) During time of general emergency, a selection or all the officers as listed above will form an emergency team operating from Headquarters (or other required location). They will in turn draw upon the expertise of other officers as appropriate. b) The emergency team (or required officers within it) will function throughout the period of emergency at the direction of the EO & CEO. Deployment of Rangers, Conservation Works Team and Information Advisors will be co-ordinated by this team via the radio and phone network. All partners with equal or overlapping responsibilities will be informed at the outset (and the stand down) of the emergency. c) All requests for assistance from third parties are normally directed through the EO, via Parke or information centre. The EO assesses the request, prioritises actions to be implemented and informs others on the emergency team. At this stage an admin support officer will be required to provide admin assistance. Ranger and Conservation Works (base) teams will primarily function within the areas detailed in any operational plan. d) At times there will be there will be a fine line between the need to initiate the Emergency Team as field staff respond to events on a one-off basis.