Contingency Planning for Sudden Change
Assumptions around Contingency planning
(From EDAP workshops)
- People will respond and pull together (as per WWII)
- Contingency planning – need to cope with National requirements to supply food to outside areas (e.g. 50%)
- We will be forced to think about food security & other securities – energy & water
- Enduring peace / expect violence over resource shortages
- Strategic rationing i.e. oil in many products
- Catastrophic fluctuations in commodities – including volatility
- Governments will start to look at alternative energy supplies: nuclear, bio-fuels, quick-fix centrally controlled
- The military are likely to have a role in domestic disaster management
Contingency planning is essential when difficulties and serious challenges face society. While the main mobilisation plan will be at national and regional level, locally a strong plan can help mitigate the worst impacts of difficulties likely to be experienced due to sudden energy shortages and climate change. In conjunction with community representatives, local leaders need to agree a clear set of priorities and make preparations in the event of any national emergency due to sudden extreme changes in weather, sea-level or energy cuts.
As in the last world war, a plan for rapid mobilisation of a plan is also essential. The following list provides a brief outline that can be built on by public bodies who wish to prepare:
Contingency – First Aid Starter Kit
- A clearly identified team of Trained Emergency Personnel including a local volunteer back-up force and local people trained in First Aid and veterinary experts
- Battery operated communications equipment including radio and telephones
- Emergency local contact numbers in all community halls and key public notice boards
- Local food growing, storage and security of supply. An emergency food distribution plan
- Adequate access to non-energy dependent, clean water supplies, and containers to carry water
- Safe weatherproof shelter for large numbers of people spread across the district, e.g. community halls with access to blankets, first aid and emergency equipment, medical supplies, candles, matches and rope
- Non-grid dependent local renewable energy supplies
- Isolation plans in the event of a pandemic disease of people, animals or plants
- Flood mitigation procedures in place, ability to check quality of possibly contaminated water
- Rescue boats, bicycles, sandbags and bales of straw.
- Local supplies of antidotes in the event of a nuclear incident.
- Preparations to ensure elderly and disabled people can be checked on and helped as needed.
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