Major Emergency Management is fundamentally about ensuring that the necessary planning, preparedness, training and co-ordination is in place to enable Galway County Council to meet the challenges posed by emergencies.
To help prepare effectively for dealing with potential emergencies, Galway County Council assesses local area hazards and specific risks. Our approach to major emergency management is based on continual hazard analysis, mitigation, planning, preparedness and recovery arrangements.
Galway Fire and Rescue Service, supported by other sections of the local authority, and in consultation with the Principal Response Agencies of An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive, regularly conduct emergency exercises as an integral and proactive approach to major emergency management.
Galway County Council’s Major Emergency Plan sets out arrangements and procedures for an effective, efficient and co-ordinated response and recovery in the event of a major emergency resulting from events such as fires, transport accidents, hazardous substance incidents and severe weather. It is designed to integrate and support corresponding plans from the other Principal Response Agencies of An Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive.
A major emergency is defined as any event which, usually with little or no warning, causes or threatens injury or death, serious disruption of essential services or damage to property, the environment or infrastructure beyond the normal capabilities of the principal emergency services.
Practical advice on sensible steps which can be taken to cope with an emergency has been issued by the Office of Emergency Planning through the publication and distribution of the handbook "Preparing for Major Emergencies" and the advice on their website www.emergencyplanning.ie