Welly2Wivey
Emergency Preparedness
Think Globally - Act Locally
Start At Home!
The purpose of this page is to ensure that our communities are as prepared as possible to cope with emergency events, ensuring that no one stands alone in the face of a crisis. Much of the information on this page is also downloadable in the Langford Budville Community Emergency Booklet and is broadly applicable for all communities and households.
Together, we are prepared, we are united, and we are strong.
This page is broken down into sections:
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Click on the section you need or scroll down.
Aims Of This Emergency Plan
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Ensure the safety of everyone in our community.
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To have appropriate actions and systems in place to provide vital information, guidance and direct support where needed and especially when police, fire or ambulance etc. are delayed.
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An Example of a Grab Bag
BEFORE AN EMERGENCY
BE PREPARED
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1. Keep a copy of our Community Emergency Booklet safe and at hand. Write the name and contact details of your Community Emergency Contacts on the front page of the booklet, and store this in your phone too. These people live in your street or close by and are volunteers to support in emergencies. Ask a neighbour or email our parish council if you're not sure who your volunteers are. Store emergency numbers on your phone.
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2. Make sure BBC Radio Somerset is pre-programmed into your radio or smart speaker, and BBC Spotlight or BBC West tuned into your television. Click here to request notifications on your smartphone specific to Langford Budville.
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3. If you have a smartphone or tablet, familiarise yourself with the Met Office Weather Forecast app so that you can keep abreast of weather warnings. You can download this from the Apple App Store if you have an iOS device, or from the  Google Play Store if you have an Android device.
Pay particular attention to any National Severe Weather Warnings for our area, and act on any advice.
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4. Create an Emergency Grab Bag of essentials, such as torch (with spare batteries), pocket radio, UHT milk, non-perishable food such as tins of soup, beans or other wholesome foods, bottled water and medications. Enough for at least 3 days. Plus, a fully charged power pack for recharging your mobile phone or tablet. Have copies of your passport or driving licence, as well as your home insurance policy and medical details. These items are a suggested minimum requirement. Please add anything to your bag which will help to maintain your spirits.
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5. Dedicate a shelf or two in your home for long-life emergency supplies - enough for at least 3 days. This Swiss website has a handy tool to help you make a list.
6. Many of us today use a card or mobile phone to pay for goods, but if the internet is disrupted and shops can’t accept cards or digital payments, then an emergency stash of cash may save you from going hungry.
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7. If extreme weather is predicted, take the time to check your preparations. This is a good opportunity to practice for major event happening. Read the 'During An Emergency' section for advice.
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8. Check in with your neighbours. They can help you and you can help them, from sharing news and advice to sharing resources.
9. Take fifteen minutes to complete this excellent online CPR and defibrillator course from the British Heart Foundation. Know where your nearest defibrillators and bleed packs are. In Langford Budville there is a defibrillator and bleed pack outside the school and a defibrillator outside the village hall.
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10. Help build our local and national resilience by donating blood or by volunteering in our community. Together we are stronger.
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DURING AN EMERGENCY
STAY SAFE
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Contact your Community Emergency Contact if you or a neighbour need support.
If you need to evacuate your home, bring your Grab Bag if safe to do so.
Langford Budville Village Hall is our designated community refuge.
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Floods: Move to higher ground or to a first floor if available. Always avoid walking or driving through floodwaters.
Fire: Evacuate immediately, closing doors behind you to contain the fire. Call 999 and ask for the fire brigade. Never re-enter the building until it's declared safe by a member of the emergency services.
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Extreme Heat: Stay indoors within your coolest room. Draw curtains and close windows that face the sun during the day - open many windows at night if the temperature cools. Cool your body with a damp towel across your shoulders. We have a whole page dedicated to cosy homes here, including a section on shade and cooling.
Snow: Stay indoors, keep warm. Clear paths with your neighbours if safe to do so. Contact your Community Emergency Contact if you are not capable of clearing your own paths, and we will try and get help from within our community.
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Wind: If safe to do so, secure objects outdoors such as trampolines, ladders and shed doors. Park vehicles away from trees before the storm arrives. Stay indoors once you have secured any loose objects outside, and avoid travel if possible.
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Utility failure: Report the issue to the relevant provider (see phone number list at the bottom of this page). If you are unsure, contact your Community Emergency Contact.
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Oil or farm chemical spillages: Avoid the area, report it by dialling 999 & asking for the police. Always follow instructions from the emergency services. Stay indoors and make sure all of your windows and external doors are closed.
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Pandemic: Keep up to date with the latest official scientific and medical advice, and avoid contact with groups of people indoors.
Individual's Health: See the attached first aid advice. If the recommendations are appropriate and you are willing to attempt the suggested actions, then go ahead, but in life threatening situations DIAL 999 FIRST.
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AFTER AN EMERGENCY
WE LEARN
After extreme weather events or emergencies, await the all clear from the emergency services, utility company or local broadcasters before venturing outside. Confirmation could be received directly from them, or via your Community Emergency Contact who will wait to be instructed by them.
Check on how your neighbours are feeling, and how have they come through the emergency. If you are concerned about their wellbeing, then dial 999 and ask for the police or ambulance whichever is applicable. If you require any further guidance, contact your Community Emergency Contact.
When you are initially outside look out for fallen debris from trees and/or buildings. Inspect your property as soon as possible, and take photos of any damage for any building insurance claim.
Assess how well you managed this emergency, and consider what you could improve if another emergency happens.
Let your Community Emergency Contact know what you liked about the help you received Before, During and After the emergency, plus what do you think could be improved. If we don't know, we can't fix it.
AS A TEAM AND A COMMUNITY WE MUST MAKE SURE WE LEARN FROM OUR EXPERIENCES AND AIM TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME...
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BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME!
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FURTHER INFORMATION​
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Langford Budville Community Emergency Booklet: A printable version of the information on this page, produced by our parish council. Other communities are most welcome to adapt and use. Do please tell us if you do - we'd love to compare notes & collaborate on our resilience journeys.
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15 Things You Need Before A UK Winter Power Cut: A short video from a chap with straightforward advice. His video playlist, named the "UK Preppers Guide" is about as far from the stereotypical American Apocalyptic Preppers that we can imagine. Britain Knows It Should Prepare, So Why Doesn't it? is interesting, as are the presenter's 'How-To' videos.
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UK Government Home Preparedness Site: (currently being developed and improved).
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Prepare Now: An independent, humanitarian-backed resource platform providing structured UK-specific preparedness guides.
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30 Days 30 Ways: Video series featuring local resilience specialists, fire services, and council emergency planners discussing practical, low-stress ways normal households can handle utility outages, local flood risks, and scams without panic.
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The Emergency Shopping List Calculator: Really useful Swiss rationality.
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In Case of War or Crisis: The Swedes don't mess about. For years they have integrated a national strategy of 'Total Defence' where society combines military defence and civil defence. Households and communities are expected to contribute to national resilience and be self-sufficient during crises or war.
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Somerset Prepared: Somerset's advice and support page.
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Ed Conway explains national and global supply trends - short, clear, nuanced reporting. He also has a deep dive weather page for our locality.​​​​
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Useful Emergency contact numbers:
Police/Ambulance/Fire Brigade: 999
Police non emergencies: 101
Electricity: 105 for power cuts / 999 for power lines brought down
National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly Western Power): 0800 6783 105
Wessex Water: 0345 600 4600 for emergencies / 0345 600 3600 for non-emergencies
Environment Agency: 0800 807060 - 24 hr hotline for environmental incidents
Floodline: 0345 988 1188
