Communities across Suffolk are being urged to sign up to a new
campaign designed to help local people be prepared for
emergencies.
Although the weather is warm and sunny now, it’s only a few
months since the severe snow caused major problems for
people. It’s hoped that the new campaign will get people
thinking about what they need to do to deal with emergencies like
bad weather in their area.
The campaign, which was jointly designed with residents from
Suffolk communities, will be visible across the county over the
next few months as posters, leaflets and as a website.
On the website, community organisations can get advice and tools
such as guides and plan templates, view the latest news or can
connect with other communities around Suffolk to share ideas and
experiences.
Andy Osman, Head of Emergency Planning for the Suffolk Joint
Emergency Planning Unit, said: “The campaign is designed to get
people thinking about where they live and how prepared they would
be if there was an emergency. It features images of real
emergency situations that have happened in Suffolk and gives
details of where people can go for further support and advice.”
Communities can be involved as little or as much as they want in
the new campaign - from providing information about vulnerable
residents or the location of resources and equipment, to forming a
team of volunteers and developing a full emergency plan.
This winter was a stark reminder of how unprecedented weather
conditions can trigger emergency situations, which can lead to
difficult situations, for many communities.
Andy Osman said: “Severe weather, and not just in winter, is
something that can effect any community and can be very distressing
when it leads to community isolation, but other unforeseen factors
such as outbreaks of animal diseases or industrial accidents can be
the cause of serious situations as well.”
He added: “The Suffolk Joint Emergency Planning Unit has a lot
of expertise which we can use to help people get better prepared –
that way we can all benefit if there’s an emergency that we need to
deal with. Some places will have community emergency
arrangements already in place – by using the new website they can
tell us what they’re already doing, and get advice on what else
they could do. As they say – it is better to be over prepared
then under.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. The community emergency preparedness website is:
www.getpreparednow.co.uk
2. As part of an existing civil protection framework –
called the Suffolk Resilience Forum – the Joint Emergency Planning
Unit offers support to Suffolk local authorities who would
typically support the emergency services responding to major
incidents. The new community resilience campaign has been
produced to help provide a more effective means of sharing
information between communities and those who will respond to
emergencies.
3. Town and parish councils have been contacted in the
first phase of the campaign, to alert them to the new approach, and
to explain how they might take the lead in their community.
Over the next few month other community groups, such as
Neighbourhood Watch, faith groups, village or estate groups will be
contacted offering the same choice to take part in improving
community preparedness.
4. For more information about general emergency planning in
Suffolk, visit the Suffolk Resilience website:
www.suffolkresilience.com
5. To find out how the community emergency planning
campaign is developing in different areas of Suffolk, please
contact the communications teams in the district and borough
councils: