Immediate help, advice and action after fires, floods and other disasters

How our support works

Incident occurs
(fire, flood, other property damage)

The Incident Commander or Fire Control Operator alerts EDSS that an individual or family is in need of further support following the incident.

EDSS contacts the homeowner, tenant or business owner

EDSS offers practical advice and assistance – explaining what is likely to happen in the coming days and making sure those affected feel reassured and supported.

EDSS Adviser takes immediate action 

The EDSS Adviser takes steps to ensure the safety and security of the property and people involved by arranging temporary accommodation, boarding up, etc.

Our post incident support includes:

  • Timely advice, guidance and reassurance

  • Arranging temporary accommodation

  • Organising emergency property security works

  • Notifying utility companies

  • Providing a discretionary food and clothing fund

  • Facilitating ongoing expert support where necessary

Post incident support

EDSS’ post incident support service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Following instruction from the fire service, our expert advisers offer immediate and ongoing practical advice after a fire or other property related disaster. Our aim is to support people through the distressing first hours and days, helping them feel safe, secure and in control.

Advice when it is needed most

When circumstances for a property owner or tenant can look most bleak, the EDSS advisers spend time listening, reassuring, and providing clear and concise information in order for them to make informed and constructive decisions. As a result, Fire Officers can be confident members of the community have the right support at the right time.

Guiding the public through uncertainty

Whether a home or business, dealing with a damaged property, brings uncertainty and stress to the fore. The essence of regaining control is having the information and knowledge to make considered, informed and timely decisions. EDSS helps replace confusion and doubt with practical advice and certainty in order to plot a path to recovery.

How important do you feel it was to receive advice at the time?
“Vital- the incident commander said there was a support service available called EDSS and would I like to talk to them and I’m very pleased we did”. 
Would you recommend EDSS to someone in a similar situation?
“100%!! Genuinely wouldn’t have known what to do without the assistance given.”
Is there anything EDSS did particularly well?
“EDSS were faultless, they were there over the phone to advise and reassure us when we needed it most as we had no idea what to do next and were in shock”.