A programme – the first in Northern Ireland – aimed a raising awareness within communities to “create, test and exercise” their own emergency plans during adverse weather, snow, flooding and security alerts has been launched in Derry.
Mayor Martin Reilly and Martin Daly, Derry City Council, at the launch of the Triax Community Resilience Plan with local community representatives. (Photo: Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)
Derry City Council, in conjunction with the Triax Neighbourhood Safety Forum, has embarked the initiative after it emerged instances, such as those above, demonstrated the need to consider local plans.
It had been found in such instances, local communities could sometimes become isolated and there could be a delay in emergency services arriving to assist.
Mayor Cllr Martin Reilly the Triax Community Resilience Plan was a “useful toolkit” aimed at providing vital information to benefit local communities.
He added: “The Plan provides essential information about local resources such as temporary accommodation or people who have the knowledge, skills and equipment which can help others and identify vulnerable people within the community.
“This plan also provides a procedure for coordination at a local level with other responding agencies which reduces panic and confusion.”
Martin Daly, emergency planning officer with Derry City Council, revealed the Plan was the first such formal arrangement between a local authority and a Neighbourhood Safety Forum in Northern Ireland.
He said: “Derry City Council sees this plan as a template to move community resilience forward throughout the Council area and would encourage other community groups to engage with Council to develop similar plans for their own areas to reduce the impact of disruption to their community.”
Tags: