Our Units Resilience
Our Unit is working closely with local Resilience Response Groups
Maritime Volunteer Service / Emergency Resilience
Essential Information / Questions for MVS Units offering their Services to other Agencies and Organisations can be found at www.mvs.org
By John Griffiths Unit H&S Officer
As the area flood warden and H&S officer for our unit, part of my brief is to encourage our members to be involved in Resilience/Emergency Response Exercises and Training.
We are builing a team of volunteers working with Cat 1 Responders and other Voluntary Organisations, They will attending meetings of Local Resilience Forums (LRF), Voluntary Sector Working Groups (VSWG), Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), Local Area Local Authority Resilience Committees and Local Emergency Management Teams.
This All this helps to raise the profile of the MVS in our local area and nationally.
We encouraged our members to become involved they must always be trained to reconised standards and work safety in their roles "working on side of caution!"
We believe this is extremely important that you have the full backing and support of unit members, and they fully understand the implications of the direction in which they are taking, and this is always to be discussed at unit level.
Training is coming with DREFA 1.Are under way the a basic water awareness course and can be found on our site under training heading .
Building Our response teams
Unit Skills – We continued training and development, planed training will be place soon; we have to make sure our members have got the right skills sets and equipment to achieve our response and support to our communities in a time of need.
We want our unit to be seen and show professional competence, while carry out their duties.
We will provide the correct PPE for the required tasks, like High Vis Vests/Jackets – (Orange preferred), hard hats in line with operational requirements and response standards
On Exercises or Emergencies, our members will normally be briefed when tasked as to what is required from them. This is where the skills list and knowledge of members capabilities is required. Some members may query why they are not tasked, and the leader should explain this possible concerned or issues that have to be resolved, knowing their limit's.
Equipment – Our Boats, trailers, radios etc. are be maintained to a high standard with maintenance schedules controlled. and this over seen by our boat Manager / Officer
We check we are fully insured to do the task with correct equipment.
We are looking to store and hold our response equipment at our base, and ensuring its available 24/7
Unit Questions Check list.
Is it kept in an area prone to flooding etc?
Are towing vehicles available at all times?
Are the drivers insured and licensed to tow?
Are you aware of the current regulations and laws on towing?
H&S and Risk Assessments – must be a high priority on your list.
Do you do them when exercising or training or working with equipment?
Do not subject your members to high risk or dangerous situations.
Usually the Cat 1 Responder calling you out takes responsibility for this.
Insurance - It has recently been agreed that the Cat 1 Responder or Local Authority calling you out covers you with their insurance and some will pay out of pocket expenses.
Contact and Call Out Details - I would suggest a minimum of 3 members details are lodged with the service that is most likely to call you.
These members will need to be able to accept calls during any 24hr period either by landline, mobile or e-mail (must read frequently).
You will need to have a pre-planned cascade call out system & skills required after initial briefing.
Always have to hand - phone numbers, e-mails of your LA Emergency Resilience Team, MCA Manager or agencies you work with.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – For those units offering their services on a regular basis or have agreed to be on call for emergency situations or giving support/assistance to major regional/national events etc it is a MUST that there is an MOU between the MVS and other parties.
Most Local Authorities and the Emergency Services have their own templates, as does the MVS.
Information can be obtained for either the National Resilience Manager (NRM) or National Secretary (Nat Sec) Draft MOU`s should initially be passed to the NRM, to check the content and format of what is being offered.
These will then be passed onto the Nat Sec for approval and signature with any required comments.
Remember – We are a `Support /Additional` facility to other services and being a Voluntary Organisation there will always be a time delay when called. This will vary from unit to unit.
Good information here for members, follow the link to www.mvs.org
WE DO NOT ATTEND AN INCIDENT WITHOUT BEING REQUESTED.
Emergency planning
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Kent Resilience Forum
The future can be random and unpredictable. Being prepared and reducing risk means that, whatever happens, people can continue their lives freely and with confidence.
One of the duties of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 is the formation of the Kent Resilience Forum, whose purpose is to ensure that there is an appropriate level of preparedness to enable an effective multi-agency response to emergencies that may have a significant impact on the communities of Kent and Medway.
The Kent Resilience Forum ensures that Kent and Medway have the ability to bounce back from disaster. The forum assesses every risk and helps the public to be fully informed and prepared. It is where partners from the emergency services, local councils, voluntary organisations and utility companies come together to ensure resources and plans are in place.
Kent Resilience Forum members
The Kent Resilience Forum is a partnership of organisations that have a role to play in emergency planning and/or response to an emergency. The organisations are divided into two groups: Category 1 and Category 2 responders. Category 1 responders are those that have a major role to play in the preparation, mitigation and response to an incident. Category 1 responders are Medway Council and:
Category 2 responders are those organisations that can have a response role and are therefore involved in planning process.
These organisations do not regularly attend meetings but it is understood that they do play a role and have a wealth of knowledge and are therefore involved in discussions.
Find more information on the Kent Resilience Forum or Local Resilience Forums on the UK Resilience website.