‘Be Ready’ Campaign

It’s important that we take the Be Ready campaign (beready.campaign.gov.uk) seriously, especially here in Cornwall. This is exactly the kind of guidance that would have helped during Storm Goretti, when thousands were left without power and communications for days, and in some cases weeks. Water supplies were disrupted, and people really suffered, particularly those who are more vulnerable.

Unlike neighbouring countries, we do not have a standard household emergency preparedness plan. The Government has worked with other countries to learn from their experience and best practice, and alongside parish and town council emergency plans, this guidance will help communities build resilience.

The campaign encourages households to keep at least 3 days' worth of essential supplies, including non-perishable food, bottled water, a torch, a battery-powered radio, a basic first aid kit and warm blankets. It also encourages people to sign up to the Priority Services Register (PSR), which helps gas, water and electricity companies identify customers who may need extra support during an emergency. 

The lessons learned from Storm Goretti, and the actions taken by parish councils, National Grid, farmers, Cormac and others, have helped inform this national guidance.

The Government will also host a Storm Summit in Cornwall this November to plan for greater resilience. I will keep pushing the case for Cornwall’s connectivity, which is a pressing issue, especially with the phase-out of copper wires and poor mobile signal.