Northumbria Local Resilience Forum

Before an Emergency

Consider volunteering for a local Voluntary or Community Group activity.

This can be rewarding in itself and gives you a way to use any particular skills or interests you might have . Whether this is as a member of the Village Hall Committee, member of the British Red Cross or some other past-time, it gives you an opportunity to learn about your community and develop other skills which might benefit your family and / or community in the wider context.

From an Emergency Response view point, volunteers from recognised organisations are more.likely to be used than "ad hoc" volunteers as their background will be known to their Organisation "managers" and skills recognised.

Some Voluntary organisations regularly work with the Emergency Services in preparing and testing plans for emergency responses so their personnel are known to the Emergency Services and they are aware of the processes and procedures which might be used.

As work on Community Resilience (see above) develops these relationships will be expanded with the wider community.

In particular you might look at Preparing for Emergencies : A Guide for Communities

Work is also being promoted through schools to develop Community Resilience