Storm Goretti: What We’ve Learned

Storm Goretti really shook Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Homes and businesses were damaged, vulnerable people were isolated, and tragically, a life was lost. Many of our roads have been blocked, power and internet connections were cut, and some have been without water.

Our emergency services, utility teams, volunteers, and neighbours have responded brilliantly. I’m immensely proud of the way Cornwall has come together in the face of adversity.

As the clean-up continues, I’ve been listening to your experiences and looking at how Cornwall can be better prepared.

The storm exposed weaknesses in our infrastructure, communication systems, and emergency planning. We need to consider long-term backup options rather than relying solely on digital systems. We must also improve priority services for vulnerable people, enabling organisations such as the NHS to make automatic referrals and reducing the need for individuals to self‑register.

At a public meeting I hosted in Penryn, we discussed practical ways to build local resilience. These included establishing designated emergency hubs with generators and satellite phones in every village, strengthening community emergency plans, maintaining updated lists of vulnerable residents, and creating an interactive map showing blocked routes and hub locations.

In the meantime, if you haven’t already self‑registered with your service providers, please do. I’d also encourage everyone to prepare an emergency box with essential items such as water, candles, a power bank, a battery‑powered radio, and a camping stove just in case.

As storms of this magnitude become more likely, strengthening local resilience must be a priority.