'Enhancing Wigan's Resilience' Fortunately Wigan is generally a safe place to live and work, and major emergency situations occur rarely. However, there is always the risk that our lives could suddenly be disrupted by an unexpected event, so it is important that we are prepared to deal with them.
In the Civil Contingencies Service we work closely with our partners who are involved in responding to emergencies. We work with the police, fire, ambulance and health services, as well as the utility companies and voluntary organisations, and have developed plans to ensure the best response possible. We also work with the other Greater Manchester Local Authorities so that we can provide mutual support if necessary, and to ensure our plans work well, staff are specially trained and periodic tests and exercises are carried out.
What You Should Do In An Emergency
You also have a part to play in responding to emergencies. By knowing what to do, you will be prepared; and therefore better able to cope with an emergency situation. Click on the following link to find out what to do: www.preparingforemegencies.gov.uk
The Council’s Role In An Emergency
The council’s main roles in an emergency are to:
- Support the emergency services, or lead agency (this depends on the type of incident) in dealing with the effects
- Provide for the physical, social and welfare needs of those affected
- Activate and coordinate the voluntary organisations
- Make safe and re-establish the affected area, and provide support for the community
- Plan and lead the longer term regeneration of the physical environment and community affected
Whilst doing all this, we also need to ensure that we can continue to provide our normal essential services, and in a large scale emergency where we need to re-divert our resources, this could prove a challenge. To ensure that we can keep our essential services running, we have a Business Continuity Management Programme in place.
Business Continuity Guidance and Advice
If you are a local business or voluntary organisation; please refer to our Business Continuity page. Here you will find out how we can help you minimise the effects of interruption to your operation in the event of being located in an area affected by a major incident, and other mundane disruptions that could threaten your normal working arrangements.
Please take the time to look through our other pages for further information and useful links
Useful Links
