Major Emergency Management

A Major Emergency is any event which, usually with little or no warning, causes or threatens death or injury, serious disruption of essential services or damage to property, the environment or infrastructure beyond the normal capabilities of the principal emergency services in the area in which the event occurs, and requires the activation of specific additional procedures and the mobilisation of additional resources to ensure an effective, co-ordinated response.

in 1995 the Major Emergency Plan was activated in response to an explosion and fire involving a bulk gas tanker in Edgeworthstown.

Longford County Council have prepared and updated a Major Emergency Plan in accordance with A Framework for Major Emergency Management, published in September 2006. The purpose of this plan is to put in place arrangements that will enable the three principal response agencies (An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and Longford County Council) to coordinate their efforts whenever a major emergency occurs. This is achieved through national and regional groups who develop guidance and deliver inter-agency training and exercises for personnel nominated for key roles in coordinating a major emergency response.