‘Heaven helps those who help themselves’: the realities of disaster planning

Holden, Paul

‘Heaven helps those who help themselves’: the realities of disaster planning

Resource type

Journal article

Creator (person)

Holden, Paul

Date published

April 2004

Abstract

In February 2003 The National Trust, in conjunction with the Cornwall Fire Service, staged an emergency exercise that fully tested our disaster plan. Our aim was to assess, in real time, all our active and reactive measures during a night-time alarm activation and with no personnel on site. Some significant conclusions were drawn from the exercise. First, 'intelligent' fire systems and electronic interfaces can, and do, aid the salvage operation. Second, reactive operations can be reliable without a predetermination of roles. However, the most important conclusion remains that without the co-operation and support of the fire service in all stages of planning the chances of successfully salvaging collections from a burning building are minimal.