The Ready Together initiative provides a free guide to assist communities in the UK in preparing for emergencies such as floods, wildfires, power cuts, and supporting vulnerable neighbours. This free online toolkit aims to build community resilience against emergencies.
While watching a diving show at her home in Ilminster, visually impaired Tina Groves, 74, was startled by the sound of rushing water from her kitchen. A flood had inundated her home, a predicament she never thought she would face considering her visual impairment. Thankfully, her neighbours helped her to safety and assisted in restoring her home once the floodwaters receded.
Like many towns around the world, Ilminster in Somerset, England has experienced some extreme weather in recent years, including floods and wildfires. To aid communities in dealing with similar crises, the Ready Together initiative is being launched in this town.
A local resident, Cheryl Mellersh, noted the unity of the town’s community during such unfortunate events. The Prince of Wales, patron of the charity, and actor Ross Kemp, an ambassador, were both present in Ilminster for the launch of the Ready Together initiative. This initiative, a project of the National Emergencies Trust, provides an online toolkit to help communities prepare for emergencies, whether floods, wildfires or disruption to essential services.
While mitigating emissions is crucial to limit climate change, which exacerbates extreme weather events, adapting to its impacts is also essential. The UK, according to the Climate Change Committee, remains unprepared for the impacts of global warming. This is where the Ready Together initiative comes in. It provides evidence-backed guidance on how to build resilience and preparedness in communities.
The free online toolkit, developed in collaboration with researchers at Nottingham Trent University, allows community groups to focus on eight areas of emergency preparedness, including communication strategies, supply management and supporting vulnerable residents. It is a practical guide that aids in identifying the skills and resources available locally, determining what might be needed in a crisis, and creating a comprehensive emergency plan. The website offers practical guidance and downloadable resources to share with others.
It’s important to consider not only extreme weather events but also cyber-attacks that could disrupt essential services, or prolonged power outages that could leave communities without heating or reliable communication lines. The toolkit advises stocking up on non-perishable food and having enough cash for essentials. It also emphasizes preparedness as it can save lives – global disaster death rates have fallen by more than 90% over the past century despite the world’s population growing fourfold. Improved warning systems, infrastructure, and emergency responses have all contributed to reducing the toll.
The ability of communities to assist one another during emergencies, similar to how Groves’ neighbours did during the flood, is what Kemp believes the initiative can strengthen. He points out that communities are usually the first to respond during a crisis and are often the last to leave. He believes that community resilience can be significantly improved if communities are well prepared.
