Emergency Response Team

BT’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) provides a proactive and reactive capability to deal with threats to our fixed and mobile networks in the UK. In recent years these have been dominated by extreme weather events, typically flooding. We proactively attempt to protect critical assets considered at risk, and if that fails, seek to help restore service as quickly as possible. In parallel, we strive to help affected communities by providing them with emergency communications facilities until normal service can be resumed.

The ERT is composed of a small core team supported by a large UK wide team of specialist trained volunteers drawn from across the business. The volunteers must be able to use their existing knowledge, along with specialist ERT skills, ensuring that they are always ready to support operational deployments.

We also hold a selection of generators and distribution equipment at both ERT locations, which can provide 110v or 240v power and lighting at deployed locations.

This equipment is transported to site using the ERT Logistics Vehicle.

All ERT communication vehicles are equipped with a generator and lighting, capable of setting up cordons on BT property. They can provide onsite command and control for an incident, supporting the FCPM. The team can also provide entry control to restrict unauthorised entry into BT buildings and assets.

The ERT can operate in many high-risk environments such as working at height. Most volunteers are flat roof trained as a minimum, this is so they can carry out emergency installations at height, but some individuals also receive specialist training in confined space and radio and rigging.

The ECC is designed to deliver a command and control work centre to any UK incident and provide communications, to assist the FCPM, with the co-ordination and Command & Control, as part of the restoration process.

All vehicles have satellite communications and can operate independently of the BT network. Four of the ECC units have been upgraded (Manchester, Cambridge, Newcastle and Inverness) to include an enhanced satellite system, Cisco unified voice and data service, video conferencing and WIFI.

The Community Support vehicle is primarily for incidents when there is a community isolation, it includes a kitchen, comfy seating, Wi-Fi and telephones. It has its own 4G connection and can provide extra support with one of our Emergency Response Vehicles with sat comms.  

All ERT personnel are flood operator trained and the team have the capability for swift water rescue and flood management. The team are all issued with appropriate Protection Equipment to work in a flood water environment.

The ERT have access to mobile flood PODs, which are located throughout the UK.

The flood POD contains pumps, barriers, flood sacks and ancillaries for managing flood water and for preventing water ingress into BT buildings and external cabinets.

Each pod has the capability to provide protection against the ingress of water to approximately 10m wide and 0.9m high.

These are 4.0m rescue craft and fitted with 30HP marine outboard engines which give them the capability to operate in both tidal and fast flowing water. The boats can carry essential equipment safely and effectively to and from flooded buildings in and around flood zones, they are operated by ERT trained boat operators.