UK: Why are we so rubbish at PREPAREDNESS?
The recent massive flooding occurs every 50-100-150 years in the UK – the gov KNEW we were due for them to occur big time, but have done VERY little to prepare our infrastructure or command systems.
The gov keeps banging on about CLIMATE CHANGE and its implications, and even blames the floods on ‘CC’, yet what are they doing to EDUCATE the general public about PREPAREDNESS? Surely it’s time we started teaching preparedness in schools and offering adult ed classes about it too, because VERY few household in the UK have a clue about what to do about flooding, or about any other kind of disaster that might happen. The same goes for businesses that also need educating about making proper contingency plans.
So… Why do you think we’re so bad about preparedness in the UK? And what do you think we/gov should be doing so that we’re more prepared for local/national disasters that might hit us in the future? Do you think lessons really will be learnt this time?
Hi. Just to add that preparedness needn’t cost massive amounts of money as much can be done via proper public education & schools so we all know what to do before/during/after disasters. Plus it doesn’t cost a lot to ensure simple measures such as sufficient water was in place for when needed, and also providing things like gas-canister hobs and lanterns for those stuck at home without electricity, etc. MUCH that was very simple and not costly should have been in place and wasn’t.
That is a good question as the government and big businesses could make money out of us by selling us things like blow up rafts, gas masks (just in case), big survival kits, big water butts to collect our own water. Man, the list goes on.
I think global warming (if it’s happening) is the least of our problems. If Yellowstone has a super eruption, America will be covered in ash and the UK would get at least a centimetre of ash as well as other countries, the earth would then go very dark for days or even weeks, the temperature could then plummet. We are not prepared for anything like that and we are now far too populated for the emergency services to help us all, and even if they could, what would they do with us. We could go into a mini ice-age, we’re certainly not prepared for that. All sorts of different natural disaters could happen that noone is prepared for, we need to go back to basics .
Other articles you might like;
- Catastrophe Preparedness for Pets (Component four of nine) Standard Preparing
- Company Continuity / Disaster Preparedness & Data Backup Strategy
- 062009 Agua Dulce Animal Preparedness 91390
- Pets and Planning for a Catastrophe
- What are your preferred non secular cop-outs?
Filed under: Business Contingency Planning
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
come on ,what do you expect,we are america pt2 in disguise.evrything is put in perspective.MONEY..
References :
why put money into infrastructure, education etc when they can spend more on Iraq??
The govt is full of great ideas….
References :
the problem is that if the government spends a fortune on something that might happen every 50-100 years this site would be full of people complaining about wasting money on a flood event that might never happen. The only time that a government can spend a lot of money in investing in infrastructure is after an extreme event like this when everyone is sympathetic.
Its the same around the world. for years before the tsunami people had been suggesting an early warning system in the pacific but it was so expensive and unlikely to occur that it wasn’t deemed a reasonable expense.
References :
Its a National Trait. Possibly the factor that can describe, "Britishness" as opposed to, "Englishness"
References :
it’s the British way, don’t do anything until there is a problem and by then it’s too late.
References :
You cannot be fully prepared for every natural disaster.
I believe it is the governments job to do whatever is reasonable to protect lives , property and the economy.
I think they have done this to a certain extent, there is aways room for improvement and learning..
To tame all the rivers throughout the southwest would have caused a massive outcry, destroyed one of the worlds most recognisable landscapes, and have been counterproductive.
The solution would of been more trouble than it was worth, and would never have gotten passed an elected official who knew what was good for him.
Your not going to like this answer but the world is an imperfect place. And sometimes the truth hurts.
I’m not connected to government or any interested parties, but am researching a book on sustainable, ecologically integrated development.
References :
No…lessons will not be learnt. What I can’t understand is why a dozen trucks with water can’t just be sent to the areas.
Great Britain…my foot.
They prefer to spend money on wars instead of on the people who pay their taxes.
References :
Because no doubt whichever party was in power, they would receive nothing but ridicule from the orter political parties for spending enormous sums of money on something from which there were no foreseeable benefits. Preventing floods tends not to receive the coverage that people carrying babies over their heads, while wading through waist deep water does. No doubt that political party would lose the next election, when the following political party would make claims that they have managed to save so many homes from flooding by using the systems implemented by the previous party, which cost them the election. It would be easy to prevent floods, simply find the lowest point, and build a pumping system that will take the water from that point to the nearest beach, river that doesn’t flood, estury, sea or ocean and pump the water there.
My advice to everybody, buy a house at the top of a hill, because nothing is ever going to change while we are forced to live in this crazy adversarial political system, in which political parties will use ‘anything’ to score cheap points off each other.
If you don’t believe me, then you are obviously still young, either physically or mentally, and are yet to be introduced to the crazy nature of this stupid society.
Remember; the top of a hill.
References :
This is ridiculous. The weather conditions that have occurred are exceptional and perhaps unprecedented. How can you prepare for natural disasters like this? What do you want taught? Come on everyone build a tree house in your garden and fill it with clean water and none perishable food, have a boat parked in the garage or better still build an ark – it worked for Noah! While you are at it build a nuclear bunker just in case someone declares war on us.
References :
That is a good question as the government and big businesses could make money out of us by selling us things like blow up rafts, gas masks (just in case), big survival kits, big water butts to collect our own water. Man, the list goes on.
I think global warming (if it’s happening) is the least of our problems. If Yellowstone has a super eruption, America will be covered in ash and the UK would get at least a centimetre of ash as well as other countries, the earth would then go very dark for days or even weeks, the temperature could then plummet. We are not prepared for anything like that and we are now far too populated for the emergency services to help us all, and even if they could, what would they do with us. We could go into a mini ice-age, we’re certainly not prepared for that. All sorts of different natural disaters could happen that noone is prepared for, we need to go back to basics .
References :
All governments do very little about climate change, of all problems in the world, CC is the one that will cost every government a continual package of money.
If any government were trully commited to reversing the so called greenhouse effects, there is one simple step which would have an immediate impact on climate change and at the same time alleviate much of the worlds poverty.
The use of corn oil in Diesel motor cars is the answer. This is the same oil that you buy at the supermarkets to put in your deep fat fryer.
The diesel engine was invented by Rudolph Diesel to run on "Peanut Oil", this modern version of "Road Diesel" is a concoction of the oil companies made up from the waste products after petroleum refining.
A mere £150 spent on each diesel car will allow it to run on corn oil.
The exhaust produced from such a vehicle has no noxious output (you could put your mouth over the exhaust without harm, but dont know why you would want to.
The Corn Oil would enable the vehicle to do more MPG and would make the engine last for years longer as Corn Oil has more lubricity then Diesel.
Add to that, the world demand for corn oil and it is easy to see how every third world country would suddenly be able to supply a commodity which is in great demand.
We can all grow corn, we cant all drill for fossil fuels and refine them into diesel.
The Benefits.
An immediate impact on world poverty caused by the new found Corn Oil industry.
!) Refineries would have to close down.
2) Oil companies would lose billions and shares would nose dive.
3) World employment on a mass scale
4) Cars would last for years longer and many foundries would close
5) The government would lose a fortune on fuel tax for fossil fuels
6) The cost of Corn Oil would plummet as the world produces an abundance
7) An immediate reduction in the amount of damage to the ozone layer
The Drawbacks
1) NONE
So it appears obvious that all governments are only paying lip service to the topic of Global Warming
References :
The Village of Attenborough was flooded in ’78 & 2000. The EA want to put a flood defense up, but because it will spoil the view of a cricket pich. The residence have rejected it!
References :