Flood risk management is being passed to the residents of villages in Gloucestershire via a podcast. What will be next? Residents becoming members of the Emergency Planning Society?

Gloucestershire County Council has produced a 7 minute audio podcast which gives a step-by-step guide to villagers living in isolated areas which are at a high risk of experiencing flooding. The podcast offers advice as to how to form an action committee, complete an emergency management plan and organise real-life exercises.

Now I am all for not relying on the council and emergency planners completely, and for communities to take responsibility for managing an immediate response to any kind of local disaster, but really, shouldn’t the council planners be also explaining/ improving/ expanding their role in these situations? It does feel like the responsibility is being placed on residents rather than authorities.

One particular resident, aged 77, pointed out that in the 1950s the rivers were dredged all the time to prevent flooding. I’d be interested to know why this is not happening now if it worked then? Surely flood prevention should take the bulk of the council’s investment rather than producing multimedia soundbytes which more elderly residents may not know how, or be able to access anyway?

Councillor Will Windsor-Clive is quoted as saying, “The idea behind these community resilience plans is not for communities to carry out the role of any of the emergency services.” That may be true but what of the responsibilities of the council’s numerous emergency planners? Surely this following list should be completed by them rather than the residents, so that they can understand the issues within these communities firsthand?

 Identify the risks to the community and relevant response actions

 Identify vulnerable people / groups in the community

 Identify resources in the community available to assist during an emergency

 Provide key contact details for the Community Response Team, Key Community Resources, the Emergency Services and Local Authorities

It seems to me that the council are passing the buck to the residents rather than the people we pay our taxes to do this for us! I’d love to hear your views…

If you are an emergency planner in Gloucestershire perhaps you’d like to argue your case? Let’s get a Friday debate going…