Increasing community resilience to the impact of flooding and severe weather emergencies has never been more pertinent. Across the country, communities have been battling the devastating effects of one of the wettest autumns on record. The Environment Agency has been working tirelessly to safeguard and support affected communities, working alongside members of these communities to promote a joined-up response effort. Chair, Emma Howard Boyd, describes being “hugely moved by the community spirit and generosity” at her recent visit to the South Yorkshire village of Fishlake, writing about her experience on the Environment Agency’s blog.
Community volunteer groups not only play a vital role in preparing for, and responding to emergencies, but are also instrumental in the recovery process, continuing to assist with longer-term clear-up efforts and helping to rebuild morale and restore a sense of normality.
Creating active and empowered communities
Ensuring these groups feel confident in leading their community to recovery is a key focus of Communities Prepared. Our training and resources support Community Emergency Volunteer (CEV) coordinators and their members to plan for and implement longer-term resilience measures.
Become a member of Communities Prepared today and access our full range of free training resources and tools. It’s free to sign up!
We’ve been busy exhibiting, running workshops and presenting at some great regional and national events. You may have seen us at the following:
- Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day
- Wiltshire Prepared Flood Warden meeting
- Cornwall Community Flood Forum’s annual conference
- BCI World Conference & Exhibition with Business in the Community
- Good Things Foundation: Joining Forces
- ACRE 2019 Autumn Conference
Are you running or attending an event that you think would tie in with our programme? We’d love to hear about it! Get in touch.
“We’re quite good at writing plans but we’re not so good at what you do afterwards. I think that was particularly helpful – understanding the follow-through needed to make sure people are supported in getting back to a working state as quickly as possible.”
Cllr Helen Deas Williams, Brixton Parish Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Find out how Brixton CERT developed their resilience to flooding. Read their story here.
The power of 3 words
How can three random words be used to support a more efficient multi-agency emergency response? what3words’ Geordie Palmer discusses.
What the flood
The Environment Agency recently launched its winter Flood Action Campaign which focuses on winter preparation and helping people to know what action to take in a flood.
Coming up
Developing the UK’s Flood Resilience Forum, 5th December 2019, brings together leading voices to discuss key topics relating to flood resilience.
