EXCLUSIVE: Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he wants to ensure communities are resilient as he admitted there are likely to be ‘a number of challenges’ facing the country this winter
Efforts to ensure British households are prepared for national emergencies will be ramped up ahead of the challenges El Niño could bring this winter.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said he wants to ensure communities are as resilient as possible as he admitted there are likely to be “a number of challenges” facing the country this winter.
The Government will soon launch a national campaign to ensure Brits are aware of the right supplies, escape routes or emergency contacts they should have amid an official survey showing just 13% of people think their household is largely or totally prepared for a disaster.
The campaign is expected to educate people on vital supplies they should keep in the cupboard, such as a battery or wind-up torch, bottles of water and tins of non-perishable food.
Asked whether people should be worried about El Niño – which could increase the risk of storms this autumn and winter – Mr Jarvis said: “Well, it’s been quite a tough summer. The prime minister has made a commitment to do a wildfire summit and we’ll be honouring that commitment.
“I think we have to be prepared for the winter. We’ll see what weather comes, but on the balance of probabilities, there will be a number of challenges that we have to face over the course of this coming winter.”
Scientists say the El Niño climate phenomenon is now the strongest event on record, which could mean increased rainfall and storms this autumn and cold snaps late winter. It could also shift weather patterns around the world, sparking fears over global food supply chains.
Mr Jarvis continued: “The campaign will make sure that there is a much greater understanding of the kind of really sort of simple, low-level things that everybody can do in their own household to make sure that they are as resilient as possible, and that resilience at a local level gives us a much greater resilience at a regional and then at a national level as well.”
He said the Government is pressing ahead to ensure it has the right plans and resources in place but also is keen to show how the public can “do their bit and be involved”. He added of the campaign: “We need to make sure that the messaging is simple and catchy and I’m keen that we capture the public’s imagination.”
The Mirror this week joined Mr Jarvis as he met residents in Leicester, where resilience plans have been accelerated after repeated flooding incidents. The visit is part of efforts to learn lessons from across the country, with some 5,000 members of the public already having engaged with the campaign ahead of its launch in autumn.
Local people told him of their anxiety that they could be hit again but showed him the plans they had enforced, including a flood barrier and a WhatsApp group for neighbours to coordinate their response.
The minister took part in a workshop where residents were asked to assess their preparedness, including whether they’d be able to cook meals if there was a power outage with access cut off to ovens, microwaves or other appliances.
Debbie Rossell, whose house was flooded twice in Leicester in recent years, told the Mirror the effects were “devastating” and that she is “on edge” about what the winter will bring.
She was forced to move out of her house, which needed extensive renovations, in January to August 2024. After not long being settled back at home, they were hit again and forced to move out from January to May last year.
“It’s just devastating. My husband’s health’s not great so you’ve got all the mould, the smell. It’s just heartbreaking. It’s horrible,” she said. “We’ve got flood barriers at the front door and at the back door. When we get flood alerts, things like that, we’re watching the weather all the time, thinking, right, do we need to put them up?
“I feel like this year will be a big test, especially after the summer we’ve had, if we’re going to have a really bad winter, flooding. I’m just hoping we get through winter. So, yeah, you just become very on edge.”
Mark Warden, the area’s local resilience forum manager, said preparedness is not about being “scared” but is about ensuring communities are well-informed.
He said this could include knowing that 105 is the number to call if you have a power cut, keeping your insurance documents in a plastic document and in a well-known place, and knowing your neighbours.
Mr Warden added: “It’s not about necessarily being scared. It’s just about taking really simple steps that will help prepare people should they ever be disrupted by an event.”
Resilience is set to be a major pillar of Andy Burnham’s speech at the Labour conference next week, according to reports.
What should you keep in an emergency kit at home?
- Battery or wind-up torch – torches are safer than candles.
- Portable power bank for charging your mobile phone.
- Battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.
- Spare batteries for torches and radio and a backup battery for any medical equipment you rely on.
- A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off.
- Bottled water – there is no standard figure for this as emergencies can vary in duration and people use different amounts. A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended by the World Health Organisation for survival. 10 litres per person per day will make you more comfortable by also providing for basic cooking and hygiene needs. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets.
- Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets.
- Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles.
Source: GOV.UK. For more information on how to prepare for emergencies, visit the Government’s website.