Councillors urged to prepare in case of an emergency - ‘Get yourself a grab bag organised’

‘Get yourself a grab bag organised’ – Local councillors have been urged to prepare in case of an emergency.

Westmorland and Furness Council has sent out leaflets to councillors advising what they should do if the region faces a crisis.

The leaflets follow the first stage of the UK government’s ‘Be Ready’ campaign in which households were encouraged to prepare for food shortages and disruption from possible cyber-attacks and storms.

The British public are advised to keep a three-day supply of cash, bottled water and tinned food at home.

Addressing the cabinet at Kendal Town Hall on Tuesday (November 10), councillor Judith Derbyshire, cabinet member for housing and community safety, said it was important councillors were first prepared in their own homes.

She said: “I’m encouraging you all to think about the fact that we all need to look after ourselves first.

“So, get yourselves a grab bag organised. I’m packing up some food to eat in the store and hiding some chocolates in there that I won’t tell anyone about.

“But this is the idea that we need to be prepared for whatever emergency comes.”

Cllr Derbyshire said it was important councillors knew what they could and couldn’t do when faced with incidents like power outages or flooding.

She said: “We need to be very careful in an emergency that we don’t take on the role of the emergency responders. The police, firefighters, good people like that.

“But we do know that we have to look after our communities and have to help our communities respond.”

The UK-wide advice is part of a three-year campaign to help households across the UK feel better prepared for events like Storm Boelo, which left nearly 10,000 properties without power in Cumbria last month.

Cyber-attacks have become an increasing threat with supermarket fridges and freezers hit across seven European countries in recent weeks as thermostats were cranked up to as high as 50C, leaving large amounts of food inedible.

Announcing the plans on October 22, Dan Jarvis MP, Security Minister, said: “By taking simple steps to be ready for everyday emergencies like severe storms, people can reduce pressure on emergency services, helping them prioritise people who need more support in an emergency.

“This is just the sort of community-focused campaign the UK needs to improve our resilience as a nation.

“It will bring us into line with European counterparts, where advice like this is a normal part of everyday life.”

By Gabriel Stewart (Local Demcracy Reporting Service)