The Herstmonceux Parish Emergency Plan is specific to Herstmonceux Parish community, villages and settlements. The guidance directs suggested actions to take in the event of a potential or an emerging crisis/emergency that may affect local residents, an incident being such as:

"An incident which threatens life, property or the environment, which involves one or more of the emergency services and Herstmonceux Parish Council, and which requires more than normal day-to-day resources to resolve."

The Emergency Plan:

• identifies and mobilises local resources to assist the emergency services;
• promotes local self-help if an emergency service response is significantly delayed or reduced.