Preparing for an Emergency & Support

All local councils have a major co-ordinating role in planning what to do in an emergency and helping the community to recover from major incidents.

Our Aim

We aim to make sure that we are ready to respond and help the community if a major emergency takes place in our district.

We can provide support in a number of ways following a disaster. For example, we can: make buildings such as leisure and community centres available to people, provide health and safety advice on cleaning up after major flooding or pollution, assess structural damage to buildings, and co-ordinate and lead multi-agency meetings to plan recovery.

We have a general emergency plan that will help us to respond to any emergency. We also work in conjunction with the key government and voluntary agencies in order to provide support in the event of a major incident.

Our Emergency Contact List has information on who to contact in the event of an emergency.

Be Ready for Emergencies- NI Direct

Directory of Key Support Services and Helplines (including Domestic Abuse, Homelessness, Mental Health & more)

 Household Preparedness

In a major emergency, it may be some time before the emergency services can help you.

The household emergency life-saving plan gives you a list of useful contact numbers in an emergency and also tells you what you should have in your household emergency pack.

Keep your completed plan somewhere safe where you can easily find it in an emergency.

Financial Support for Householders following flooding (SEFA)

Households affected by flooding may be eligible to apply for £1,000 immediate payment under the Scheme of emergency financial assistance (SEFA).  This is subject to the scheme being activated, notification made to the Council as soon as possible (no later than 7 calendar days from the date of the flooding incident) and fulfilling the criteria of the scheme.

Welfare Support 

The aftermath of a flood can be very difficult and sometimes overwhelming especially if your home or business has been impacted by significant damage. This can be particularly difficult for the vulnerable, elderly, workers and volunteers helping those affected.

The following are a list of contacts which offer support.

Urgent Help

Anyone in crisis should contact their GP or call Lifeline 0808 808 8000 or if in immediate danger, call 999.

Lifeline

Helplines NI    

Minding Your Head

Community Preparedness and Support

In an emergency, friends, neighbours and members of the local community often work together to help each other.  Some communities have started to develop their own community emergency plan for their area. 

Further information is available at Be ready as a community | nidirect

Regional Community Resilience Group (RCRG)

The Regional Community Resilience Group (RCRG) was formed in 2013 to help local communities prepare for and respond to weather related emergencies.  

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) along with other multi-agency partners have established over 50 Regional Community Resilience Groups (RCRG) across Northern Ireland at locations which have experienced historical flooding. The Department continues to expand, both the number of groups and their engagement with these communities to better assist them during periods of flooding. The map published by DfI details the location of all the existing groups in the eleven Council areas and contact details on how members of the public can join their local RCRG.

For further information please contact RCRG@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

General Advice

Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE)

General Enquiries: 0344 892 0900 (from 8.30 am to 5.00pm)

Housing Benefit enquires: 0344 892 0902 (from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm)

Housing Executive tenants repairs 0344 892 0901 (8.30 am to 5.00 pm for normal repairs, 24 hour service for emergencies)

Out of Hours Service - Homelessness - 03448 920908

Community Advice (formerly Citizens Advice)

Telephone: 0300 303 0306

Email: advice@advicenmd.com