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Welcome to Warwickshire County Council



Emergency Planning and Advice
The Emergency Planning Unit

It is commonly thought that emergency response is only for those in uniforms carrying flashing blue lights. But it isn’t. The Emergency Planning Unit performs a vital role in facilitating the preparation for such incidents and events and assisting in the co-ordination of the response.


This page aims to give readers an insight into the work of the unit.

The work of the Emergency Planning Unit (EPU) falls into four broad categories:

Planning The EPU is continually assessing the risks posed within Warwickshire and developing and maintaining plans to, where possible prevent an emergency occurring or ensuring that procedures are in place to control and mitigate their impact.

Training and Exercising The EPU conducts a continuous programme of training for our partner agencies and other relevant persons to make them aware of the need to plan, and to provide them with the necessary advice and guidance to do this. The Unit also provides a means to validate their procedures, on a regular basis through exercises to assure maximum preparedness.

Liaison The EPU works closely with partner agencies and stakeholders to ensure harmonisation of plans and procedures so to ensure a co-ordinated and integrated response to emergency incidents as they arise.

Operational During times of emergency the work of the unit goes beyond production of plans, with an active role in co-ordinating the response, and provision of logistical support. The unit will likely lead any reconstruction or recovery to restore the community.

The operational role of the EPU has been tested on many occasions including:
  • Snows 1990
  • Chlorine Gas Leak - N. Warks 1991
  • M40 Mini Bus Crash 1993
  • Easter Floods 1998
  • Evacuation – Stoneleigh 1999
  • Millennium 1999/2000
  • Fuel Crisis 2000
  • Foot and Mouth 2001
  • Bus crash 2003
  • Lillington Flats Fire 2004
  • Rugby Fuel Depot Fire 2005
  • Long Itchington Gas leak 2006
  • July Floods 2007
Severe Weather - Snow
The EPU, whilst being prepared to respond during office hours, also operates a 24hr, 365 day a year duty officer system whereby the emergency services can access assistance at any time.

The EPU promotes the need for emergency preparedness to become part of the management culture of all partner agencies within the County to ensure that Warwickshire continues to be as best prepared to respond to any emergency as possible.







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