The availability of information prior to an emergency developing or the details available following the initial stages of a spontaneous incident allows a range of measures to be put in place.

A number of factors would indicate that further action is required by responders. This may include:

• Scale and nature of incident has already drawn multi-agency response which requires more formal coordination
• Evidence or expectation that the conditions associated with an incident will persist or deteriorate
• Significant social, economic, environmental or political impacts are anticipated
• SEPA Flood Warning or Severe Flood Warning
• Met Office Amber or Red Weather Warning.

Key information dictating the necessity of a coordinated response may come from any responder agency.

Scottish Government officials may also become aware of information which indicates the need for Regional Partnerships to consider a developing situation, for example, potential infrastructure disruption.