Emergency Plan

This page has been put together to give the residents of the Parish information about the COMMUNITY EMERGENCY SCHEME. This was completed in October 2007 and updated and reissued in January 2023. It covers various situations which could occur in the Parish which could cause difficulties for some, or all, of the residents, and what has been planned to help with these problems.

The Parish Council hopes that these situations will never arise, but it is best to be as prepared as possible so that we can help ourselves, at least for a limited time. This leaflet is intended to give you some information on what the Emergency Planning Group thought might occur, and what we could do about it. We will also make some suggestions about what you could keep in the home by way of emergency supplies, and who to contact if you need help. Some of this information you will know already, but you might find it useful to refer to this page should the need arise.

There are only three copies of the Community Emergency Scheme. Two are held in the Parish by Mark Stanley, the chairman of the Emergency Planning Group, and by Sue Ryding, the Parish Clerk. These two copies contain some lists of people considered to be at particular risk, people who could provide first aid cover, or help in other ways, and so on. These lists will be kept completely confidential. The third copy has been sent to the Emergency Planning Department of North Yorkshire County Council. It does not contain any confidential information. 

What kind of emergencies could we encounter?

What can we do?

Moorland/forest fires

If you notice a fire please ring 999 immediately and then leave the area as quickly as you can. If you have a vehicle in the vicinity, move it out of the way as soon as possible.

Heavy snow

If heavy snow is forecast, ensure any valuable electrical equipment or vehicles are sheltered or undercover. Stock up with tins or long life food in case the roads are blocked and you are unable to reach the shops for a few days, and ensure that you have adequate heating fuel. During a storm, stay indoors as much as possible and keep windows and doors closed to minimise heat loss. There is snow moving equipment within the Parish, so if you are completely snowed in, let us know by phone and we will try to arrange to get through to you.

High winds

If high winds are expected, check walls, fences, roofs and chimneys to see if there is anything that could be damaged. If time, then get any problems attended to. Regular pruning of vulnerable trees can prevent them from blowing over or from branches breaking off. Secure loose objects, such as garden furniture or anything else that can be blown into windows, and park cars either in a garage or somewhere away from trees, walls and fences, if possible. High winds often cause a failure of the electricity supply, so set up alternative cooking facilities, if you have them, and stock up with food in case roads are closed due to fallen trees.

Loss of electricity supply

This can happen at any time of the year, but is more common during the winter. There are several things we can do as individual householders, such as ensuring that we have a torch, plenty of candles, matches, or other ways of lighting our houses, and putting them in a handy place. One idea could be to have an Emergency Box (see below for suggestions as to what to put in it). If possible, invest in other types of heating such as calor gas stoves. Many householders in the Parish have alternate types of cooking facilities and have said that they are happy to help out. If necessary, then, ways of providing hot meals in an extended power cut, can be organised. A battery operated radio will keep you in touch with the outside world and will give you information about road and school closures.

Loss of water supply

This has only happened once in recent times, but it could be a problem in the future. Unfortunately, as with the electricity supply, there is no way of knowing when it could occur. There are independent water supplies in the Parish, if we need them, and in an extended failure of supply, the water company will provide bottled water. If collecting a supply of bottled water is a problem, please contact us and we can arrange a delivery.

We hope, of course, that none of these emergencies will arise, but it is best to be as prepared as possible for these eventualities. As suggested above, an Emergency Box could be useful. Keeping a few essential things in a handy place could make life a bit more comfortable for a while. Below are some ideas.

EMERGENCY BOX

• A torch and spare batteries
• Candles and matches
• A few tins of food that do not need reheating
• Cartons of long life milk
• A first aid kit

WHO TO CONTACT IN AN EMERGENCY

• Use 999 for an urgent emergency, but other numbers are available for information or other enquiries.
• Police: 0845 60 60 24 7
• Yorkshire Fire and Rescue: 01609 780150

Public utilities

• Electricity: 0800 668 877
• Water company: 0845 124 2424
• British Telecom faults: 0800 800 151
• Floodline: 0845 988 1188
• Met Office for weather reports: 0870 900 0100