Plans have been put in place in a bid to avoid a repeat of the chaos that followed last year’s winter storms.
Thousands of homes across Dumfries and Galloway spent days without power following Storm Arwen battering the region at the end of November.
The response across the country to the devastation caused by the heavy wind and strong rain saw the Scottish Government carry out a review of the situation to see what can be improved.
As a result, a new online learning hub is being created to help individuals, community groups and volunteers prepare, respond and recover from emergencies while emergency responders across the country will have completed a full winter readiness exercise by the end of November.
The report also made 15 recommendations, including a look at what strategic planning should be carried out and how information can be shared.
Justice Secretary Keith Brown said:“The Scottish Government committed to a full review of the circumstances of Storm Arwen and this report demonstrates clearly the range of work that is under way to ensure that lessons are learned.
“Our responder community, including our blue light services and our local authorities, will put these recommendations in place and we will support them to ensure our resilience arrangements continue to strengthen to protect communities.”
Chairman of the Scottish Resilience Partnership Jim Savege added: “Responders have worked hard through the year, reviewing the risks we need to be prepared for, planning and exercising and making sure we are as prepared as we all can be for any future events and incidents we may have to respond to.
“More than ever, emergency services have considered wider risks that may be realised, and the growing reality of having to deal with concurrent risks and incidents.
“Significant additional work has been invested this year into working with voluntary organisations and communities to ensure their resilience and their ability to deal with incidents has been enhanced.
“Community and business resilience are the bedrock upon which emergency services work and respond.
“The SRP is grateful for all of the work that so many colleagues have invested in ensuring we are as prepared as we can be for the winter ahead.”
