Emergencies - major incident response
A major emergency is commonly defined as "any event (happening
with or without warning) causing or threatening death or injury,
damage to property or the environment or disruption to the
community, which because of the scale of its effects cannot be
dealt with as part of our day-to-day activities".
Although most major emergencies tend to happen quickly and
without warning (for example an explosion or transport
accident), they may also develop slowly (for example severe
weather, an outbreak of infection or supply shortages).
Examples of major emergencies can include:
- Natural disasters (such as floods, gales and snow)
- Chemical Hazards (such as the uncontrolled release of toxic
gas)
- Pollution Incidents (such as the oil washed up in large
quantities on beaches)
- Transportation Incidents (such as ferry, railway or major road
accidents)
- Loss of essential utility services (such as power failures and
the fuel crisis)
- Acts of Terrorism (such as bomb threats and evacuations)
- Public order disturbances (such as riots and
demonstrations)