Steps are being taken now to ensure Dumfries and Galloway is ready for any future winter storms.
Heavy rain and strong winds battered the region on numerous occasions last winter, with thousands of homes spending days without power following Storm Arwen at the end of November.
The Holyrood Government has now revealed a winter preparedness programme, which will be led by the Scottish Resilience Partnership.
It’s just one of a number of measures being introduced following a review of the country’s response to Storm Arwen.
Other steps being taken include a new online hub to help individuals and community groups prepare for and respond to emergencies.
And there will also be a new system to identify and provide swift support for vulnerable people during bad winters.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The purpose of the Storm Arwen review was to ensure lessons were learned and translated into real change to ensure Scotland’s collective resilience approach to future severe weather events is as robust as possible.
“The existing Scottish Government and partner arrangements at national, regional and local levels are underpinned by the same fundamental aim – to keep the people of Scotland safe from danger and ensure our communities are resilient and able to bounce back from challenging disruption.
“The Scottish Government and responder organisations have been working hard to begin implementing the review’s recommendations and I am reassured by the progress.
“However, there is no room for complacency and we recognise the need to prepare for increased severe weather. Good planning and preparation is crucial to minimise the impacts on communities.”
Chairman of the Scottish Resilience Partnership, Jim Savage, added: “Ensuring we have effective resilience across Scotland – whether at individual or household level, or for emergency responder organisations – requires a continual process of planning and preparation.
“This year’s programme has included a strong focus on individual and community resilience which is of vital importance, particularly in light of Storm Arwen. I must extend my thanks to communities and organisations who have been working hard to ensure we are as ready and prepared as we can be to respond to and deal with the different events that are inevitably in front of us.”
