Last updated 13:37, Tuesday, 11 November 2008

A new booklet telling Cumbrians how to respond in an emergency is being sent to every house in the county.

The booklet – We’re ready, are you? has been sent to homes with the council’s Your Cumbria magazine.

It outlines the main potential risks to people including how to cope with flooding, severe weather and a flu pandemic.

It coincides with the launch of a new website cumbria.gov.uk/emergency which also gives advice on what action to take while an emergency is happening, such as staying inside a safe building and tuning into local radio or TV for information.

Councillor Alan Clark, Cumbria County Council’s acting portfolio holder for safety, said: “Thankfully, emergency incidents are rare in Cumbria, but we still need to be prepared.

“The county’s local authorities are working hard to ensure they’re ready to minimise the potential impact by planning, preparing and staging mock exercises.

“But the public in Cumbria need to do their bit too and this booklet and website gives some helpful advice.

“Incidents such as the January 2005 floods and the foot and mouth epidemic show that the effects of a major emergency can be both long-lasting and far-reaching.

“Anything we can do advance to mitigate the effects can only be a good thing.”

The booklet has been produced by the county council and six district councils.