Event to plan for ‘fast onset emergency’ in Cove and Kilcreggan

A public drop-in session is held to focus planning for a ‘fast onset emergency’ in Cove and Kilcreggan.

Earlier this year the villages’ community council agreed to draw up a plan to deal with major emergencies such as Storm Arwen.

It would not cover nuclear emergencies at Faslane or Coulport, which are covered by major national plans, but major storms or flooding.

Now an event in Cove Burgh Hall is scheduled for 12.30 on Saturday October 7 to look at an approach to household and community emergency planning.

Storm Arwen in 2021 saw 80,000 households in Scotland without power, some for several days, while 8m trees were damaged.

Community council secretary Sheelagh O’Reilly said major councils had emergency planning plans but increasingly they were looking for local communities and community councils to lead on this and establish local community emergency plans.

“One of the benefits of a community plan is that in some cases for the first 72 hours most people in that community have resources themselves, so that what emergency services are available can be targeted at the most vulnerable, the people most in need,” she said.

 “In Aberdeenshire and Dumfries & Galloway their plans have developed after major storm events – we have been remarkably lucky in the recent past that we have not had this kind of event.”

Before the meeting, the community council has posted a suggested emergency kit for every household, which should be in a safe place at home where you can reach it easily.

It includes:

• Battery radio with spare batteries, or a wind-up radio
• Battery torch with spare batteries, or a wind-up torch
• Mobile phone charger (if reliant on car for this ensure enough fuel in tank!)
• First aid kit
• Important documents like birth certificates and insurance policies
• Bottled water, ready-to eat food that won’t go off and a can-opener
• Spare keys to your home and car
• Spare glasses or contact lenses.
• Essential medication and toiletries
• Pencil and paper, penknife, whistle
• Formula or baby food (if applicable)
• Pet supplies (if applicable)