Emergency response plans in place

A senior Council officer has said there are plans in place across in areas across Derry to cope with people evacuated in an emergency situation.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Nov 2016, 12:24 BST
Updated 16th Nov 2016, 16:35 BST
Emergency Response exercise: The scene back in March in Gransha Wood where the University of Ulster staged a crisis training exercise with the emergency services and voluntary agencies. Picture Inpresspics.comEmergency Response exercise: The scene back in March in Gransha Wood where the University of Ulster staged a crisis training exercise with the emergency services and voluntary agencies. Picture Inpresspics.com
Emergency Response exercise: The scene back in March in Gransha Wood where the University of Ulster staged a crisis training exercise with the emergency services and voluntary agencies. Picture Inpresspics.com

Martin Daly, Derry & Strabane Council’s Emergency Planning Officer was speaking after being questioned about provision by SDLP Councillor Gus Hastings at the Council’s November Governance & Strategic Planning meeting.

A new Multi-Agency Emergency Response Framework developed by the Western Emergency Preparedness Group - which includes part of Strand Road PSNI Station being used as the emergency response co-ordination hub for the west- was endorsed at the meeting.

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Mr Martin said that in the past the Council has responded to various emergency situations and provided emergency support centres for people evacuated from their homes, as well as providing information on dangerous structures

Colr. Hastings asked whether the Council was satisfied that there was an emergency centre in most or all of the local communities, “especially in the case of a bomb or a major disaster”.

Mr Daly said that the Council had developed community response plans for different areas. “In the former Derry Council area we have 18 such locations,” he said, adding that plans were being developed for the Strabane area and other rural areas.

Sinn Fein Colr. Maolíosa McHugh complimented Mr Daly for his work to date and for his response when contacted regarding flooding of the Finn Valley. DUP Colr. Drew Thompson also paid tribute to Mr Daly for his work over the years with the current and former city councils. “Having been involved in some of the plans we have worked on they are very, very thorough,” he said.

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