Evacuations

Evacuations can occur day or night and are usually done to preserve life. Fires, floods and industrial accidents can all cause evacuations, although it is fires that are the most usual cause.

The Emergency Services are responsible for ordering an evacuation, but it is the Local Authorities duty to receive the evacuees who have been made un-intentionally homeless for the period of the evacuation.

Access

When an evacuation occurs the Emergency Services will set up a cordon. A cordon is a controlled area which the Emergency Services set up for safety or to preserve evidence.

All people within the cordon will be asked to leave by the Emergency Services until it is safe or suitable to return. The Emergency Services have no legal duty to remove you from your home unless the cordon has been set up in relation to a terrorism incident, in which case section 36 of the Terrorism Act 2000 applies:

• A Police constable in uniform may-
  (a) order a person in a cordoned area to leave it immediately

If the incident is not terrorism related then you are strongly advised to follow the instructions given by the Emergency Services at the time.
If this advice is to leave the cordon area then you are advised to do so, it is likely that your safety may be compromised if you stay behind in your property.

If you leave the cordoned area then the Police have powers to stop you re-entering the cordon even if your property is within the cordon area.

If you are asked to leave the cordoned area as an evacuee, then you are advised to take essential items such as medication with you ONLY if you have time to gather them.

Where to go

You should stay with family and friends as nearby as possible, until the cordon is removed.

If you have no family and friends to go to, the Local Authority may establish an Evacuation or Rest Centre.

Evacuation Centres are sometimes referred to as Rest Centres and the 2 terms refer to the same thing. Local Authorities have rest centre or evacuation plans in place so as to be able to forward plan for such emergencies.

Evacuation of pets

Rest Centres are generally not suitable to house pets for more than a few hours; therefore it is important that you are able to leave pets in safe hands until the incident is over.
If your pet cannot be placed elsewhere before evacuation, and the evacuation is likely to be for a prolonged period, then the Local Authority will aim to help you place pets safely with local vets and boarding kennels. If the evacuation is for not more than a few hours then we will endeavour to allow pets to remain with you in a designated area of the rest centre, however, this is a decision which will be made by the Rest Centre Manager and will depend upon the type and number of pets. Owners must ensure that their pets are properly supervised at all times.
Pet owners are responsible for all fees incurred for boarding their pet.

Assistance dogs will be allowed to remain with their owners at all times and provision made to accommodate them.

Who to contact

At the scene of the Emergency nearby the cordon there will likely be a large amount of Emergency service activity, and in amongst this there is likely to be a Local Authority Liaison Officer who should be visible via the Local Authority logo.

If you are an evacuee with nowhere to go you should make yourself known to the Local Authority Officer. If no Local Authority Officer is present you should make yourself known to the Emergency Services.

If an Evacuation Centre is established you will be informed of its location and may be asked to make your way to the centre or if it is some distance away transport may be provided.

In the Evacuation Centre you should expect basic sleeping equipment, food and drinks to be provided. Sleeping quarters will be communal as evacuation centres are usually set up in Community Halls or similar.

Those with disabilities or specialist requirements should make themselves known to the Evacuation Centre staff so that adjustments can be made to assist.

Evacuation advice for Businesses can be found at the link below.