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Are you ready for the weather this summer?

Published
The recent spell of warm weather is a timely reminder that thinking ahead and preparing for what the weather may bring can make a difference. 

Gloucestershire Local Resilience Forum partners are encouraging individuals and communities to prepare for summer. The good news is that there is a lot of advice available online and several practical steps that can be taken.

Summer weather  

Summer weather can be a mixture of hot dry spells and heatwaves, turning to heavy rain and thunderstorms, so it is important to be prepared whatever the weather.

The Met Office’s ‘WeatherReady ‘campaign brings together expert advice from a range of partner organisations to help people prepare for and respond to the weather, so they not only stay safe, but are able to make the most of it.

The Met Office has lots of helpful advice on preparing for summer weather including ‘10 things to prepare for summer’ and ‘Summer #WeatherHacks’ and a ‘Top Tips’ downloadable poster for community spaces.

Staying well this summer

Hot weather can affect individual’s health, particularly the most vulnerable. The NHS has advice on its website about how to cope in hot weather. British Red Cross has some advice for vulnerable groups during a heatwave on its website and Age UK has some helpful information on its website about how to stay cool in hot weather. For children, Save the Children has some tips on its website for keeping children safe during a heatwave.

Looking after pets in hot weather

Like us, our pets are also vulnerable to heat-related problems and illnesses. The British Veterinary Association has lots of information on its website about caring for animals in hot weather.

Community Emergency Plan

Many Parish and Town Councils and community groups are good at checking on and assisting vulnerable people within their communities, especially during severe weather. Having a Community Emergency Plan can assist with your community’s response to various emergencies including severe weather. If your community hasn’t already got a Community Emergency Plan, a plan template and supporting guidance is available via Gloucestershire Local Resilience Forum’s website. 

Are you Ready?

Further information on preparing for severe weather and other emergencies is available in the ‘Are you Ready? Booklet produced by multi-agency partners and available via Gloucestershire Local Resilience Forum’s website.