Building community resilience
Become better prepared on a local level
The response to, and recovery from, an emergency is carried out first and foremost at the local level. This response may be from the emergency services alone, but will more likely be a joint effort with engagement from local people as they will know their community and its needs.
There may be circumstances, such as widespread flooding, heavy snow or severe storm damage, where the arrival of the emergency services and other responders could be delayed, or when essential utilities and highways access may be compromised.
Communities who have particular risks are encouraged to complete community resilience plans which will identify volunteers, resources and those who may be particularly vulnerable.
Local parish councils are linked with their district emergency planning officers and other Kent and Medway Resilience Forum (KMRF) members, such as the Environment Agency, to support in completion of these plans.
KALC (Kent Association of Local Councils) continually offers the KMRF extensive support with the promotion of the community resilience agenda. For more information about KALC visit its website at www.kentalc.gov.uk.
Additionally, the KMRF continues to look at ways to identify and engage with communities across Kent and Medway.
Get involved
Make a community resilience plan
The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum has developed templates to help you create a community resilience plan, a list of contacts, an incident log and a letter to residents.
Community Resilience Planning booklet
A short guide to creating a community resilience plan for your community
This booklet provides a starting point for communities looking to become better prepared on a local level to respond to the potential impacts of emergencies on residents and businesses. It covers key points to consider when setting up a community resilience group and creating your community resilience plan.
Download a PDF of the booklet here or request a printed version by emailing KRFCommunityResilience@kent.fire-uk.org
Further guidance for parish and town councils
There are further ways in which you can help to strengthen your community’s resilience, read more about improving community resilience here.
Flooding preparedness
For information about preparing for flooding and volunteer flood wardens visit Flooding | Kent Prepared
Link in with your local district, borough or city council
If your community decides to create a plan, and you would like more information about the risks in your area, emergency plans in place and the support available, please contact your local district/ borough council emergency planning officer. Links to district/borough council websites are available in the 'current partners' section of this site or email your local council emergency planning team listed below:
Ashford Borough Council: emergency.planning@ashford.gov.uk
Canterbury City Council: emergency@canterbury.gov.uk
Dartford Borough Council: emergency.planning@dartford.gov.uk
Dover District Council: emergency.planning@dover.gov.uk
Folkestone and Hythe District Council: emergency.planning@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk
Gravesham Borough Council: emergency.planning@gravesham.gov.uk
Kent County Council: resilience@kent.gov.uk
Maidstone Borough Council: emergencyplanning@maidstone.gov.uk
Medway Council: emergencyplanning@medway.gov.uk
Swale Borough Council: emergencyplanning@swale.gov.uk
Sevenoaks District Council: emergency.planning@sevenoaks.gov.uk
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council: emergencyplanning@tmbc.gov.uk
Thanet District Council: emergency.planning@thanet.gov.uk
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council: emergency.planning@tunbridgewells.gov.uk
Sign up to Communities Prepared
Communities Prepared is a national community resilience programme that equips Community Emergency Volunteers (CEV) and Flood Warden groups with the knowledge and confidence to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a range of emergencies, from flooding and severe weather incidents to pandemics.
The Communities Prepared programme provides community volunteers with free online or in-person training and support, tailored to local needs and priorities. In doing so, they are supporting the development of multi-role volunteer groups that have the confidence and skills to manage a range of emergencies: building their community’s long-term resilience. In the context of COVID-19, cost of living crisis and climate change, this is a high priority.
For access free training, handbooks and guidance visit their website at www.communitiesprepared.org.uk and register with the Communities Prepared Hub.
Encouraging children and young people to think about how to prepare, plan for and respond to emergencies can help build more resilient communities.
Visit our youth resources page to find information our the Duke for Cornwall Safety Awards for young people aged 5 to 18 years.
