[We will add a link to this article on our Useful Info page, so you can find it easily in the future]
[aesop_quote type=”block” background=”#679ba3″ text=”#000000″ align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”An emergency can happen at any time without notice and it might be some time before help arrives. It is very important that you and your family have made preparations for emergencies at home.” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”off”]
Senior Community Resilience Officer, Diane Irving-Davidson and her colleague, Mandy Patterson from Dumfries and Galloway Council braved the cold and frosty (and very beautiful) morning on Glencaple Quay to bring their Resilience & Community Safety trailer to talk with the community about being ready for winter and our community resilience.
[aesop_content color=”#ffffff” background=”#768c44″ columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” disable_bgshading=”off” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”right” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]’Community Resilience is about communities using local resources and knowledge to help themselves during an emergency in a way that complements the local emergency services.
[/aesop_content]
Community Resilience Plan
There are aspects that we would like to look into further – a Community Resilience Plan for example. This can highlight things everyone should be aware of e.g.
- where to go if you get evacuated from your house (arrange in advance)
- how to keep in touch with family – where to meet up
- who will turn off gas/electricity/water/ etc in your house
- where these switches are (find out in advance)
- the location of a landline phone that can still be used in emergency situations
- how to look out for vulnerable neighbours
- how to support each other
[aesop_quote type=”block” background=”#3774b0″ text=”#000000″ align=”left” size=”1″ quote=”Diane and Mandy repeated that it’s often not until people NEED to know and do these things that they actually get done. Advance planning and preparation is key!” parallax=”off” direction=”left” revealfx=”off”]
Household Resilience
We have a few paper copies of the Council’s Household Resilience HELP (Household Emergency Lifesaving Plan) if you’d like one. This is an excellent resource to complete now, so that you are prepared and have an essential checklist to hand.
You can also view the document online [use the link below] and print it out yourselves.
Household_Emergency_Lifesaving_Plan
…a lot of the useful contacts and emergency numbers can be found on our Useful Info page.
Priority Services Register
Extra support during a power cut.
SP Energy Networks (who look after the equipment that delivers electricity to homes and business in Southern Scotland) have set up a Priority Services Register for customers who may need extra support at the time of a power cut, in the long or short term e.g. if you’re recovering from an operation, if you are pregnant, or if you are recently bereaved.
Other criteria to join include if you:
[aesop_content color=”#ffffff” background=”#17b88a” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” disable_bgshading=”off” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]Are over the age of 60
Have a special communication need
Depend on electricity for home or medical care
Have a child under 5 years of age
Have chronic illness
Or just feel you need a little extra help
[/aesop_content]
You can also do this on behalf of a family member/ neighbour.
You can sign up for the Priority Services Register by using their online form available here or by calling them on 0330 10 10 167. You can also un-register yourself using the same number.
Flooding
There is a wealth of information on the council website regarding flooding which you can browse to your heart’s content!
The important message that Diane and Mandy had was that the council budget is being squeezed (see here) and so it cannot be guaranteed that they will be able to provide flood gates as they did back in the winter of 2015.
However, they have set up a Flood Product Subsidy Scheme through which individual properties and businesses identified as being at risk from flooding can purchase selected products – flood gates and extensions, smart air-bricks, vent shield and guards, sandless sandbags and weep hole vents, until the funds are spent.
Click this link for more information on Flood Products
Have a look here to request a survey of your property and for advice about suitable protection products
[aesop_content color=”#ffffff” background=”#1c5693″ columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” disable_bgshading=”off” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up” revealfx=”off” overlay_revealfx=”off”]With thanks to our Ward Officer Chris Woodness who alerted us to the Community Resilience team coming to Glencaple Quay.
[/aesop_content]
Please do let us know if you would be interested in finding out more or have important information/tools/facilities or equipment that could be used and/or you’d like to be involved in setting up Caerlaverock Community Resilience Plans.
It will be of benefit to everyone in the community!
Get in touch:
Leave A Comment