As the rain falls in Biblical proportions, councils and their partners up and down the land are having their emergency plans – and resilience - tested to the limits.

While coastlines are being battered and headlines become ever-more stormy, the clouds part every so often presumably to enable councils to heed Government exhortations to get our emergency plans in place and make sure we act on them.

Teignbridge, with its glorious South Devon coast, moors and countryside experiences its share of disasters and emergencies. However, a sound Community Resilience Programme (CRP), founded on strong community links, solid relationships with county council and Environment Agency partners and a proactive workforce invariably help us to protect our customers and environment from the worst of the weather.

A clear, focused and well-communicated emergency plan, supported by seamless and savvy cross-team working involving environmental health, coastal and drainage services and property engineers helps deliver the CRP's key goals of anticipation, preparation, response and prevention. 

As we battled to save Christmas from calamity many things worked well such as helping communities write their own emergency plans ensuring the welfare of residents was placed at the core.

Also, an established network of 21 sandbag stores across the district, located inland and in coastal areas, brought into service by a nominated local key-holder who is prepared and responds when the need arises.

Information, education based on experience and help with practicalities support communities to batten down their own hatches. Parish and town councils have proved enthusiastic about playing their part and have brought forward proposals to help safeguard their own localities and to act as eyes and ears for the most vulnerable and at risk.

Waste collection, cleansing and coastal and drainage teams braved the elements 24/7 during the festive ‘holidays' to fill more than 10,000 bags with 100 tonnes of sand, hand out or distribute them to communities, clear up the worst affected areas and offer targeted advice.

Well briefed and committed support staff such as communications, resorts, customer services, consultation and engagement play their part by communicating key messages to politicians, the media and customers.