Summary / Overview
Emergencies can arise from many sources, such as extreme weather, prolonged utility failures, flooding, public health emergencies and transport. Statutory emergency services will respond, but widespread incidents may delay assistance.
The Boston Spa Emergency and Resilience Plan establishes a structured framework for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies affecting the parish. The aim is to reduce the impact of emergencies on residents while supporting statutory agencies during periods of significant disruption.
The Parish Council’s foremost role is to provide a ‘first response’ – to communicate in the event of an emergency, to coordinate support as needed, and to work with (but not replace) other regional and national emergency services and statutory responders.
The Emergency & Resilience Team has adopted three guiding principles.
1. Plan & Prepare
Residents, families, businesses and community organisations are encouraged to take responsibility for their own preparedness by understanding local risks, maintaining emergency supplies, preparing household emergency plans and becoming familiar with essential utilities and emergency procedures. See details below.
2. Help & Support
Residents are encouraged to support vulnerable neighbours, establish local communication networks and consider how their own skills, knowledge or equipment might contribute during an emergency.
3. Organise & Protect
The Parish Council’s foremost role is to provide a ‘first response’ – to communicate in the event of an emergency, followed by coordinating support as needed, as well as working with (but not replacing) other regional and national emergency services and statutory responders in the event of larger incidents. The Village Hall will serve as information hub and ‘rest centre’. The Leeds Emergency Team will coordinate and provide additional resources. St. Mary’s Church and the Methodist Church are also available to provide shelter and support if required. During major incidents, we will aim to provide regular updates.
The Parish Council has overall responsibility for maintaining the Emergency and Resilience Plan. The Plan is reviewed and amended regularly as required.
The Parish Council does not direct emergency services, undertake statutory emergency response functions or replace the responsibilities of professional responders.
Community Response Principles
- Protect life before property.
- Keep yourself safe before helping others.
- Emergency services remain in command.
- Communicate only verified information.
- Respond proportionately to the incident.
- Support the most vulnerable first.
- Work together as one community.
- Record actions and decisions.
- Learn from every incident.
Plan Activation
The Chair of the Parish Council or their designated representative will call the plan into action: 1- if a significant emergency affects Boston Spa; 2- if Leeds City Council requests activation; or 3- if West Yorkshire Prepared requests community support. The Parish Council members are designated to coordinate and manage such an event, supported by local volunteers.
Significant community disruption (village-level impact):
- Prolonged power or water outage
- Severe weather – heat wave or cold weather
- Significant infrastructure disruption
Major Community Emergency:
- Extended utility outages
- Severe weather causing widespread disruption
- Major public health incident
- Multi-day community impact
Appendix 1 - Emergency Contacts / Telephone numbers
Emergency Services – 999
Police, non-emergency – 101
NHS (24-hour) – 111
Electricity emergency failure – 105 (24-hour)
Gas emergency – 0800 111999 (24-hour)
Yorkshire Water – 0345 1242424, www.yorkshirewater.com
Northern Gas Networks – www.northerngasnetworks.co.uk
Leeds City Council – 0113 222 4401
Leeds Prepared – leeds.gov.uk/prepared
West Yorkshire Prepared – wyprepared.co.uk
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue (non-emergency) – 01274 682311
Yorkshire Ambulance Service (general enquiries) 0330 678 4100
Boston Spa Parish Council – Clerk: 07864 649565 clerk@bostonspapc.org.uk
Appendix 2 - Preparing for an emergency
Emergency Supplies – enough for 3 days
- Battery or wind-up radio with torch and charging point
- Portable power bank (some wind-up radios include this)
- Spare batteries for torch or radio
- Candles (and matches)
- First aid kit
- Wet wipes and hand sanitiser
- Bottled water (3 gallons per person)
- Non-perishable food that doesn’t require cooking (and tin opener)
- Baby and maternity supplies
- Sanitary supplies
- Pet food / supplies
Preparing for an Emergency
- Check smoke alarms monthly
- Keep gutters cleared, also check drains in street outside your house (call Leeds City Council if they are clogged)
- Know where your utility shut-offs are located
Water stop cock
Electricity isolation switch
Gas isolation switch (only a qualified engineer can turn this back on)
- Check that you have adequate home/business insurance cover
- Make a list with passport numbers, insurance details, bank accounts, etc. – or take photos of these. Keep handy (see ‘Grab Bag’, below)
- Keep important documents (passports, birth certificates, etc) accessible
- Plan an escape route in case of fire or flood
- Agree a meeting point with loved ones
Make a ‘Grab Bag’ containing:
- Paperwork: List of insurance policies, passports, and IDs in a waterproof pouch.
- Money: Some cash, as card machines may not work during a power outage.
- Keys: Spare house and vehicle keys
- Food: Non-perishable snacks like energy bars or dried food.
- Warmth: A foil emergency blanket or a spare waterproof jacket, possibly a change of clothes
- First aid kit: Plasters, bandages, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers.
- Medications: Essential prescription drugs and a copy of your prescription details.
- Hygiene items: Hand gel, wet wipes, tissues, and sanitary products.