🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Last verified: July 2026 — validate with your local authorities during the annual update of the club directory.
1. Emergency numbers
| Service |
Number |
| General emergency (police, fire, ambulance, coastguard) |
999 (or 112) |
| NHS non-emergency medical advice (24/7) |
111 |
| Police non-emergency |
101 |
| Environment Agency Floodline (24/7) |
0345 988 1188 |
2. National disaster management
| Element |
In the United Kingdom |
| Government lead |
Cabinet Office — Resilience Directorate (preparedness) + COBR Unit (crisis response) — gov.uk |
| National legal framework |
Civil Contingencies Act 2004: Category 1 responders (emergency services, local authorities, NHS, Environment Agency) and Category 2 responders (utilities, transport) |
| Territorial crisis authority |
Local Resilience Forums (LRF) — multi-agency partnerships based on police areas (38 in England, 4 in Wales; Regional Resilience Partnerships in Scotland; Emergency Preparedness Groups in Northern Ireland) |
| Risk doctrine |
National Risk Register (NRR), published by the Cabinet Office |
| Citizen preparedness |
prepare.campaign.gov.uk — official UK resilience advice for households |
| Organised volunteering |
Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP), coordinated by the British Red Cross — the club can connect locally |
3. Alert systems
| System |
What it is |
Access |
| Emergency Alerts |
Government cell-broadcast warning (launched March 2023) for life-threatening events (flooding, terror, evacuation) |
Automatic on 4G/5G phones |
| Met Office weather warnings |
National Severe Weather Warning Service — yellow / amber / red by likelihood and impact |
metoffice.gov.uk |
| Environment Agency flood warnings |
Three levels: Flood Alert / Flood Warning / Severe Flood Warning (danger to life) |
check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk; sign-up free |
| Floodline |
24/7 phone service for flood information and warnings |
0345 988 1188 |
| Met Office / Environment Agency apps |
Localised weather and flood alerts |
App stores |
4. Key non-Rotary actors
| Actor |
Role in disaster |
| British Red Cross |
Rest centres, emergency support lines, practical and emotional support; coordinates the VCSEP |
| St John Ambulance / St Andrew's First Aid |
First aid support, one of the three recognised Voluntary Aid Societies with the Red Cross |
| Local Resilience Forum (LRF) |
The club's institutional contact — get known there BEFORE the crisis |
| Local authority (council) |
Rest centres, welfare, recovery; front line for most emergencies |
| The Salvation Army |
Meals, distribution, welfare support |
5. Dominant risks → guide cards
| Risk |
Where |
Card to print |
| Flood (river, surface water, groundwater) |
Nationwide |
Card B2 |
| Coastal flooding / storm surge |
East and south coasts, estuaries |
Card B2 |
| Windstorm / severe gales |
Nationwide, autumn-winter |
Dedicated card in preparation — see roadmap |
| Heat wave |
England, urban areas |
Card B4 |
| Industrial / hazmat accident |
Industrial corridors, ports |
Card D1 |
6. Equivalences with the guide's terms
| Generic term in the guide |
UK equivalent |
| National disaster management agency |
Cabinet Office (Resilience Directorate + COBR) |
| National response plan |
Civil Contingencies Act 2004 framework |
| Emergency medical service (EMS) |
Ambulance service (via 999) |
| Territorial state authority |
Local Resilience Forum (LRF) / local authority |
| Mass casualty protocol (MCI) |
Major Incident procedures (JESIP) |
| Civil-security citizen reserve |
Voluntary Aid Societies (British Red Cross, St John Ambulance) |
| Inter-agency coordination |
Local Resilience Forum (LRF) |
Donation tax rules: under Gift Aid, a UK charity can reclaim an extra 25p for every £1 donated by a UK taxpayer, at no extra cost to the donor, provided the donor signs a Gift Aid declaration. Higher-rate taxpayers can claim additional relief through their Self Assessment tax return. Check that your Rotary club or club charity is registered to claim Gift Aid.
7. Rotary section — to be completed by your club
| Element |
Your information |
| Rotary district |
____ |
| District Governor (DG) |
____ |
| District disaster officer (DRO/DRC) |
____ |
| ShelterBox UK contact |
____ |
| Local Resilience Forum / VCSEP contact |
____ |
| Neighbouring clubs (< 50 km) |
____ |
| Last update of this section |
//______ |
Sources: GOV.UK (999 and 112 national emergency numbers, Local Resilience Forums, Emergency Alerts, Civil Contingencies Act 2004, Gift Aid), Met Office (National Severe Weather Warning Service), Environment Agency (check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk, Floodline), British Red Cross (UK emergency response). Report any error: g.bourgogne.rtn@gmail.com