Resilience and Emergency Planning

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Preparing for and Dealing with Emergencies

Everyone across the Western Isles is being encouraged to ‘think ahead' and be prepared for all kinds of severe weather.

Severe weather can occur at any time of year but is most likely during the winter months. Whether at home, in the community, in the workplace or out on the move, we all need to consider the risks and consequences of severe weather and how we – and the people we live and work with – could be affected.

Ready Scotland

Don't wait until it happens – taking small steps now will help make all of us in Scotland better prepared. You can get involved by sharing information, making plans, taking action. 

The Ready Scotland website offers a range of information including first aid, staying safe during severe weather, dealing with loss of utilities, wildfires, cyber safety, and how to create an emergency plan and emergency kit for your home. The useful site also offers employers information on business continuity.

• Visit the Ready Scotland website
• Follow the Ready Scotland Twitter account
• Get Facebook updates from Ready Scotland
• Download the ReadyScotland smartphone app

Stay Informed

Find out latest local weather and flood updates via:

• Visit the Met Office website
• Click here for SEPA Live Flooding Information
• Living with Flooding: Action Plan
• Flooding – What to Do: Who Can Help

Local Information

NHS Western Isles

NHS Western Isles has produced its annual guide Your Health Guide: Keep well this winter, a useful 4-page guide offering help and guidance to ensure you, and those you care for, get the right care in the right place this winter, as well as helping you to keep safe, well, and warm. Topics include winter vaccinations, medications, ordering repeat (and safe disposal of) prescriptions, hot water bottle safety, combating winter bugs and viruses, substance use and Naloxone, emergency contraception, Power of Attorney, Self-directed Support, Hospital at Home, childhood fevers, financial and food bank support.

In addition, carer support and payments for carers features, as well as tips on how to support others, and how you can keep physically and mentally well during the winter season. Click here to view.

Safer Outer Hebrides

The Safer Outer Hebrides website offers details of local and national organisations – offering public protection advice, assistance, and information on a variety of topics including domestic abuse, adult support and protection, food and baby banks, online safety, and housing and accommodation.  Details of upcoming events is also listed.

Walk on Hebrides – Health Walks & Strength and Balance Exercises

Walking is a simple way to increase your physical activity, it is good for all round health, can help to improve your mood and it's free – you just need some comfy shoes!

Health Walks are short, social, local, low-level led walk that can be adapted to suit the needs of the walkers, and can be anything from 10-60 minutes duration. Click here to view our current Walking Group lists offered throughout the Western Isles. All are welcome to join.

Paths for All have developed a Strength and Balance programme combining 14 simple exercises with advice on walking to help adults stay active and independent. Click here to view these and additional strength and balance information..

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

To access all Comhairle nan Eilean Siar services, please visit their website at: https://cne-siar.gov.uk

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have produced their annual guide, Keep Safe, Keep Well this Winter! Cùm sàbhailte, cùm gu math sa Gheamhradh seo! To view the handy local severe weather guidance guide (Including Emergency Support Contact Details), click here.

Local Monitoring Cameras – Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's road monitoring cameras show live steams and images of the Braighe), Barvas moor and the Clisham. Click here to view.

Local Gritting – Winter travel advice on local council gritting is also available to view. Click here to view.

Winter Campaign against Poverty (OHCPP Anti-Poverty Group)

The Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership have produced a Cost of Living Crisis leaflet offering help and useful links on the topics of older people and pension credits, fuel, families, food and local advice services. Click here to view.