How does your Community benefit from Resilience Planning?

There is a need for communities in Dorset to raise awareness of resilience to emergencies and disasters which could affect their residents and the local environment.

The delivery of Community Resilience Planning in Dorset is undertaken at the town and parish council level. With some expert guidance provided by the Local Resilience Forum (LRF), local community leaders in Dorset have in recent years begun to consider the risks which face the areas they live and work in. The LRF is made up of public agencies such as Local Authorities, Emergencies Services and Health Providers.

Each community has the option to create a Resilience Plan which identifies some of the key existing assets that can be used locally at critical periods. These may include the following:

• Farmers with snow ploughs
• 4×4 vehicles
• Vets
• Places of safety

Community Resilience Plans present a strategy for working with public agencies to allow a community to recover from emergencies using some of its own resources. This might involve some other key actions, such as:

• Identifying and supporting vulnerable people during a crisis
• Maintaining accessibility across the community
• Supporting businesses and trade

If you are interested in learning what level of Community Resilience Planning may have taken place in your community, then please make contact with any of the following organisations:

• Your local Parish or Town Council:
• Dorset Civil Contingencies Unit on 01305 229045

Liam Patton

Emergency Management Officer, Dorset County Council, South Annexe, Colliton Park, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ