Emergency Services & Partners - Utilities
GAS
The Police have day-to-day arrangements for the call-out of National Grid
in an emergency involving gas.
Roles and Responsibilities
In a major incident National Grid would:-
a) search for and locate the presence of free gas and to make it
secure against the risk to life and property
b) advise the Police and Fire and Rescue Service as to the extent
of the area of risk of gas hazard and the need to evacuate people
c) render safe damaged or threatened plant or gas supply networks
d) reinstate gas supplies when the situation is considered safe
e) investigate the cause of any gas escape and the consequences
of such escapes.
f) in conjunction with the relevant local authority, ensure that
any residual gas deposits are vented from the premises affected
by the event.
National Grid
National Grid operates the pipeline system which transports the gas
around the country.
It is responsible for:-
Emergency Procedures
Safety
Gas Escapes
Initial Contact
National Grid, Systems Operations, Norgas House, Killingworth, North Tyneside
ELECTRICITY
The Police have day-to-day arrangements for the call-out of Northern
Electric Distribution Limited (NEDL) in an emergency.
Roles and Responsibilities, In a major incident NEDL would:-
a) locate damaged supply lines and make secure against the risk
to life and property
b) advise the Police and Fire and Rescue Service of any actual hazard
c) render safe any damaged or threatened apparatus on the local
grid
d) restore electricity supply when the situation permits
e) investigate the cause of any fault or breakdown and the consequences
of such occurrences.
Initial contact by NEDL
with an affected Local Authority would normally be via the EPU.
The EPU would then provide the information relevant to that authority.
When the area affected covers more than one local authority area
the EPU will act as co-ordinator for the authorities and NEDL.
Initial Contact
Central Control, Manor House, Penshaw, Sunderland
WATER
Pollution
The Environment Agency North East is responsible for dealing with and investigating
any incident which involves the pollution of rivers, streams and other inland
waterways including reservoirs and aquifers, and will advise on and supervise
any containment measures necessary.
Water Supply
The supply of potable water in Tyne and Wear is the responsibility of Northumbrian
Water.
The Environment Agency is also concerned with water quality and should be
contacted whenever there is a threat or damage to water courses in Tyne and
Wear.
Sewerage.
The Sewerage Authority for Tyne and Wear is Northumbrian
Water.
The Environment Agency is also concerned with pollution entering the drainage
system and should be contacted in any actual or potential alert.
Roles and Responsibilities,
In a major incident, Northumbrian Water would:-
a) render safe any damaged or threatened water plant or supply pipes
b) advise the Emergency Services of any potential hazard
c) cut off supply should the situation demand
d) ensure supply of water for firefighting
e) divert or reinstate supplies where necessary
f) deploy emergency potable water supplies to an affected locality during
a protracted incident. (This action would also cover any water shortage situation)
g) provide scientific advice
Initial contact by a Water Undertaking with an affected Local Authority would
normally be via the EPU. The EPU would then provide the information relevant
to that authority.
When the area affected covers more than one local authority area the EPU
will act as co-ordinator for the authorities and Water Undertaking.
Initial Contact
Environment Agency North East,
Skinnerburn Road, Newcastle (Office hours) (River pollution, etc.)
Environment Agency North East,
Regional Communications Centre, Leeds (Silent Hours)
Northumbrian Water, Emergency Control, Thornaby (Contamination of
Potable Water,
Drainage/Sewerage
COMMUNICATIONS
The standard method of communications during the course of any major
incident will continue to be the British Telecom telephone network
augmented by the Emergency Communications Network (ECN). Additional
communications are available via the use of the Cellular Telephone
System , or other landline
Network providers
During a major incident, British Telecom or it’s equivalent shall provide
the following supporting role:-
i) to provide temporary and/or additional lines as requested
ii) to reinstate damaged lines
Initial Contact
Should any additional communications equipment be required, British Telecom
should be immediately contacted using their Emergency Linkline number.
The Government Telephone Preference Scheme (GTPS)
This scheme is designed to ensure that essential telephone communication
is provided during an emergency. Under the GTPS, subscribers are
prioritised by the use of three categories as follows:-
Category I those lines vital to the safety and integrity of the
country during a period of hostile attack
Category II those lines
necessary to maintain the life of the community in an emergency
Category III all other
lines If Category I is implemented, subscribers in Category II and
Category III are able to receive but not originate calls. If Category
II is implemented, then the restriction on making calls described
above will apply to Category III subscribers only.
Cellular Communications
Similar arrangements to the GTPS exist to ensure that, in an emergency,
the cellular communications provided by service providers such as
Vodaphone, Cellnet, Orange, and One to One can be made available to
the Emergency Services. Details of these arrangements. known as the
“Access Control by OverLoad Class” (ACCOLC) system are
given in Annex 1 to this section.
This section provides specific references to the procedures to be followed
by Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit although any restricted subscribers
would
have the same facility.
BT Emergency Linkline
The British Telecom Network Operations Unit in Leeds maintains a 24 hour
contact number called “Linkline” which should be called regarding
all major incidents and emergencies in the BT North East Zone.
RAYNET (The Radio Amateurs Association)
Additional communications back-up can be provided by RAYNET.
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