Our aim is to prepare emergency plans and make arrangements to protect the people, property and environment of South Cambridgeshire. We prepare contingency plans and organise major-incident training and exercises to prepare for emergencies and to reduce their impact.
Our planning officers help to provide assistance and guidance to businesses and the public. This can cover a wide range of emergencies such as floods, chemical leaks and gas explosions through to comparatively minor incidents. An emergency planning officer is on call at all times to deal with any emergency.
Current emergency status
You can access the current emergency status of a range of topics through the following websites:
Council-related emergency information will be posted on our website and via Facebook and X. You are also encouraged to read the information on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Prepared website.
What to do in an emergency
- if you're a witness, dial 999
- if you're stranded in your home, tune in to your local radio or television station for advice. Listen out for emergency telephone numbers
- use social media to find out what local public services are saying
- warn any neighbours, and check on the elderly and disabled, if it's safe to do so.
If you have been impacted by flooding, please read our flooding webpage for further support.
Help for communities
There are 2 easy things your community can do to prepare for the unexpected, one is having a simple family emergency plan and the other is making an emergency box containing some basic items such as:
- tinned or non-perishable foods (ideally food that does not need to be cooked)
- bottled water
- torch (and spare batteries)
- radio
- sandbags (if you are in a flood risk area)
Download Preparing for emergencies: What you need to know, a government booklet that tells you what to do in an emergency.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Prepared use a community risk register, which helps us to assess the threats and risks to South Cambridgeshire. We use this to plan a response and recovery should an incident occur.
Communities should also spread the word about the free Priority Service Register for elderly and vulnerable people who may need more support during a power cut. Every resident over the age of 60 is eligible to join the register, as are residents with a disability, who are visually or hearing impaired, are chronically ill or dependent on medical equipment, or have young babies.
Animals and pets
Pets should be kept safe and under cover. If you need to go back to a restricted area to feed or care for livestock or horses contact the police, who will make the necessary arrangements.
Parish emergency plan
In case the emergency services couldn't get to you immediately, a parish emergency plan should be in place for your community.
A parish emergency plan should:
- reassure your community
- allow organisation and co-ordination of a community response to an emergency
- provide your community, emergency services and local authority with a local point of contact and assistance
- help to keep your community informed
- helps those that are vulnerable by providing care, support, and information or practical help
- represent the community and assist with community recovery
Please read our Parish Emergency Plan Template [DOC, 0.2MB], and our Parish Emergency Plan Guidance Document [PDF, 4.5MB] for further support.
Business continuity planning
A business continuity plan is critical to ensure your business can carry on despite an emergency.
The government outlines a set of options that the private sector and security industry can use to enhance their security at times of raised terrorism threat levels or in response to a terrorist incident.
Please download our business continuity handbook [PDF, 2MB] to help prepare for emergencies.