Resilience
GETTING WEATHER READY – THE REGIONAL COMMUNITY RESILIENCE GROUP NEWSLETTER
Date published: 08 December 2017
The Regional Community Resilience Group (RCRG) was formed in 2013 to help local communities prepare for and respond to weather related emergencies.
The group brings together Multi-Agency Partner Organisations from government, utilities and the voluntary sector to work for and with Communities at Risk of Severe Weather.
This newsletter will be used to highlight important developments to enhance community resilience, provide an opportunity for communities to share experiences to the benefit of others and highlight key responder contacts to help readers to Get Weather Ready!
DOCUMENT DOWNLOADS
- getting-weather-ready-winter-2017
- getting-ready-for-weather-spring-summer-2018
- rcrg-newsletter-winter-2018
- RCRG-General-Emergency-Life-Saving-Plan-A5-updated-04-12-2018
- RCRG-Household-Flood-Plan-A5-4th-DEC-2018
- RCRG-Household-severe-weather-plan-04-12-18
- RCRG-Newsletter-Summer-2019-v5
- Regional-Community-Resilience-Group-Flooding-Document
ONGOING FLOODING
The Council can support affected householders with administration of the Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance. This is a payment of £1,000 to assist those severely inconvenienced by flooding. In order to determine if you are eligible your property needs to be inspected by an Environmental Health Officer.
The Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance is available at
https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/articles/local-government-circulars
Another support is the Council’s Home Safety Scheme. This offers bespoke advice on home accident prevention to those over 65, those who may be vulnerable or those with a child under the age of 5. A home safety visit includes advice on a number of topics including, carbon monoxide, fire safety and preventing slips, trips and falls. A number of onward referrals may be made and subject to criteria equipment may also be provided.
Tel: 028 71 253 253
To access any of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s supports please telephone
028 71 253 253 or email health&[email protected]
DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
To Report Incidents of Flooding, please contact the flooding incident line on 0300 2000 100. Calls taken by the incident line staff are passed to the relevant responding Agency. Waiting times can be longer when there is a high volume of calls.
DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE – RIVERS
DfI Rivers work to repair and maintain flood defences and grilles, clear flood debris and carry out
inspections.
River and Watercourses related issues should be directed to the DfI Rivers area offices:
- · Coleraine: 028 7034 2357
District Council areas covered by this office - Derry and Strabane, Causeway Coast and Glens, Mid and East Antrim, Mid Ulster, Antrim and Newtownabbey
- · Omagh: 028 8225 4900
District Council areas covered by this office - Mid Ulster, Fermanagh and Omagh, Derry and Strabane
DEPARTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE – ROADS
Reporting of issues on roads, footpaths, bridges, street lighting or blocked road gullies
should be directed to Department of Infrastructure Roads
- Western Division 0300 200 7899 [email protected]
- Northern Division 0300 200 7899 [email protected]
Any problems with Roads and Streets can be reported online through the NIDirect website www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/travel-transport-and-roads/problems-roadsand-streets
NORTHERN IRELAND HOUSING EXECUTIVE
Flooding of Northern Ireland Housing Executive houses and advice in relation to emergency rehousing should be directed to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Telephone 03448 920 901 or Repairs 03448 920 901 www.nihe.gov.uk
NORTHERN IRELAND WATER
NI Water’s primary focus is on the maintenance of water and wastewater services to its customers.
Burst water mains and blocked sewers should be directed to NI Water Waterline by dialling 03457 440 088. www.niwater.com
NORTHERN IRELAND ELECTRICITY
In the event of a power cut, fault or an outage contact Northern Ireland Electricity on 03457 643 643.
The helpline is open 24 hours to report a loss of electricity. www.nie.co.uk
BT
A fault can be reported to BT on 0800 800 150 or www.bt.com
GAS SAFE REGISTER
The Gas Safe Register should be used to find a gas engineer to inspect any gas appliance. The Gas Safe Register can be accessed online at www.gassaferegister.co.uk or by contacting 0800 408 5500.
OIL FIRING TECHNICAL ASSOCIATION (OFTEC)
OFTEC have a Registration Scheme. The Oil Firing Technical Association may be contacted to find if a domestic oil fired heating technician registered with the Scheme on 01473 626298 or on their website at www.oftec.org.uk
OIL SPILLS
Further information on Oil Spills is available at
Oil Spills
Oil Spills at Home
Oil Care
PSNI
In an emergency dial 999. Call 101 for a non-emergency where you need advice and assistance.
www.psni.police.uk
NORTHERN IRELAND FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
In an emergency dial 999.
www.nifrs.org
LIFELINE
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress and despair. If you are or someone you know is in distress or despair contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES & FINANCE SUPPORT SERVICE (IN TIMES OF CRISIS AND NEED)
If you have a financial crisis you can apply for Discretionary Support or a Short Term Benefit Advance via a dedicated freephone service.
- Tel: 0800 587 2750
- Text number: 0800 587 2751 (for customers with hearing difficulties only)
RED CROSS
The Red Cross support the police, ambulance and fire and rescue services, local authorities and health authorities to help those most affected by UK crises. The Red Cross provides a wide range of services throughout the Northern Ireland and Isle of Man area.
12 Heron Road, Sydenham Business Park Belfast BT3 9LE
Tel: 028 9073 5350
NATIONAL HOUSE BUILDING COUNCIL (NHBC)
The National House Building Council can be contacted on 0800 035 6422. www.nhbc.co.uk
FEDERATION OF MASTER BUILDERS
The Federation of Master Builders can be contacted on 0330 3337777 www.fmb.co.uk
ROYAL MAIL
The Royal Mail’s re-direction service can be accessed on www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection/ or at the Post Office.
INSURANCE
Flood Re is a joint Government and insurance industry initiative designed to help provide better access to affordable home insurance for those in high floodrisk areas across the UK.
The scheme will:
- Enable homeowners to find affordable insurance if an eligible property is at risk of flooding.
- Help tenants to find affordable contents insurance if you live in an eligible property.
- Help local authorities and communities across the UK to be better prepared for flooding.
- Create a ‘level playing field’ for UK insurers, which means they can still offer homeowners an affordable range of appropriate policies to those homes at risk of flooding.
Properties will be eligible if they meet all of the following criteria:
- The insurance contract must be held in the name of, or on trust for, one or more individuals or by the personal representative of an individual;
- Used for residential purposes;
- Have an individual premium;
- The holder of the policy, or their immediate family, must live in the dwelling for some or all of the time (whether or not with others) or the dwelling must be unoccupied;
- Built before 1st January 2009 (if a building is demolished, built pre 1st January 2009, and rebuilt, the new property is still eligible);
- Located within the UK comprising England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (excluding the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands).
Further information is available on the Flood Re Leaflet or at www.floodre.co.uk/homeowner
Advice can also be obtained from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) on 0207 600 3333 www.abi.org.uk
ADVICE CENTRE
CITIZENS ADVICE
DOVE HOUSE
RESOURCE CENTRE DERRY
Advice Providers offer support with;
- Benefits Advice
- Consumer Advice
- Employment Advice
- Housing Advice
- Money and Debt
- Health and Disability
- Tribunal Representation
- Basic Immigration
- Referral to Specialist Organisation(s)
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NORTH WEST
5th Floor, Embassy Building
3 Strand Road
Derry BT48 7BH
Tel: 028 7136 2444
Email: [email protected]
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NORTH WEST
Unit 1, Spencer House
14-21 Spencer Road
Derry BT47 6QA
Tel: 028 71342536
Email: [email protected]
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU NORTH WEST
17 Dock Street
Strabane BT82 8EE
Tel: 028 7138 2665
Email: [email protected]
RESOURCE CENTRE DERRY
Carnhill
Derry BT48 8BA
Tel: 028 7135 2832
Email: [email protected]
DOVE HOUSE COMMUNITY TRUST
32 Meenan Square
Derry BT48 9EX
Tel: 028 7126 9327
Email: [email protected]
DAERA
The NIEA water pollution hotline is 0800 807 060. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It also provides a dedicated emergency pollution email address at emergency-pollution@daerani.gov.uk.
The general DAERA customer helpline is 0300 200 7852 or email: mailto:[email protected]. uk.
For advice on animal health and welfare, farmers should contact DAERA on 0300 200 7840.
ULSTER FARMER’S UNION
Omagh Office
5 Gillygooley Rd, Omagh BT78 5PN
Tel: 028 8224 3057
Limavady Office
5 Connell Street Car Park, Limavady, BT49 0DB
Tel: 028 77762996
NORTHERN IRELAND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION
15A Molesworth St, Cookstown BT80 8NX
Tel: 028 8676 5700
RURAL SUPPORT
Dungannon Rd, Cookstown BT80 9AA
Tel: 0845 606 7607
ADVICE FOR BUSINESSES
Advice and information including information on the Land and Property Services’ Hardship Scheme is available on the NI Business website www.nibusiness.co.uk
nibusiness.co.uk is a free service offered by Invest NI and is the official online channel for
business advice and guidance in Northern Ireland.
Food Safety Advice for Businesses
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Public Health Agency Flooding Guidance
Northern Ireland Water Flooded by Sewage