On 6 September a new national phonenumber “105” was launched by electricitynetwork operators for customers to callshould they need to report or getinformation about a power cut in theirarea. 105 is a free service for people inEngland, Scotland and Wales, and youcan call the number from most landlinesand mobile phones. It doesn’t matterwho you choose to buy your electricityfrom - anyone can call 105.

Why is the new 105 number beingIntroduced?

A lot of people don’t know who to call toreport or get updates about power cuts,with many wrongly calling the energysupply companies they pay their bills to.

105 aims to solve this problem, providingpeople with an easy-to-remembernumber that will put them straightthrough to their local electricity networkoperator. This is particularly importantwhen there is bad weather as severestorms can cause major disruption toelectricity supply into homes andbusinesses.

105 is just one of the ways you cancontact your network operator. They canstill be contacted directly by phone ontheir 0800 number or via their website –and most can be reached through socialmedia too. You can also call 105 if youspot damage to electricity power linesand substations that could put you, orsomeone else, in danger. If there’s aserious immediate risk, call theemergency services too.

Who is behind 105?

105 is jointly funded by electricitynetwork operators. Electricity networkoperators are the companies thatmanage and maintain the undergroundcables, overhead lines and substationsthat bring electricity into homes andbusinesses.

There are several electricity networkoperators. The larger ones each cover adifferent region within Great Britain.Wherever you live, 105 will put youthrough to the right network operator.

When will the service start?

The service began on Tuesday 6September and a series of nationalcampaigns are scheduled around thecountry to promote the new service.

Don’t be left in the dark - Call 105To find out more, visit

www.powercut105.com

Helping You To Help Yourselves

Newsletter of the Devon Community Resilience Forum Page 1

DEVON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE FORUM

September2016

Devon Community Resilience Forum

Power Cut? Call the new 105number

The Devon Community Resilience Forumwill be holding the next event on the 9thNovember at the Kenn Centre, Kennford,EX6 7UE. Key agencies from acrossDevon: the Police, Fire & Rescue Service,Environment Agency, Devon CountyCouncil and District Councils, will beproviding advice and workshops forcommunity respresentatives.

This will be the third event and alreadypromises to build on the success of theprevious two events. Presentation willinclude:

• Setting up a community rest centre.

• Role of Police and Fire & RescueService.

• Community plan case studies.

• Community risk assessments.

• Running a community exercise.

• Writing a community emergencyplan.

For more information visit:

www.bit.ly/resilience-forum

Devon CommunityResilience Forum

Page 2Newsletter of the Devon Community Resilience Forum

With colder nights fast approaching, aNational Chimney Fire Safety Week (5 –11September) provided a timely reminderto make sure that your chimney is readyfor the winter months ahead.

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Serviceas part of the national Fire Kills campaignare urging householders to check theirchimney is safe and has been swept by aregistered chimney sweep. Follow thislink for advice keeping your chimney safewww.bit.ly/safe-chimney

Chimney fires accounted for over 5,000incidents dealt with by fire and rescueservices in England between April 2014and March 2015. This year’s Chimney FireSafety Week calls for homeowners toclean up their act and get their chimneysswept by a registered sweep to preventchimney damage, and, in worse cases,household fires.

Marc House, Community SafetyPrevention Manager explains: “Allchimneys and flues are best cleaned andchecked during the summer months toensure they’re free from debris and infull working order before it starts to getcolder. A blocked or defective chimneycan cause both chimney fires and carbonmonoxide poisonings so it’s veryimportant to employ a professionalqualified Chimney Sweep." Follow thislink for advice about carbon monoxidewww.bit.ly/carbon-monoxide-safety

He went on to say “If the worst shouldhappen, working smoke alarms can giveyou an early warning, make sure youhave at least one smoke alarm on everylevel of your home and test themmonthly. And don’t keep this advice toyourself – pass it on. Is there anyone youknow who may need your help inorganising a sweep or testing theiralarms?”

How often should you have yourchimney swept?

Fires and heaters

Open fires can provide a relaxing andatmospheric way to keep warm, whereasportable heaters can be handily movedaround but it’s important to use themsafely:

• Always use a fire guard to protectan open fire against flying sparks and hotembers. Make sure embers are undercontrol and properly put out before yougo out or go to bed.

• Keep portable heaters away from

curtains and furniture and never usethem for drying clothes. Always unplugelectric heaters when you go out and goto bed.

Make the call now to request free HomeSafety advice call free on: 0800 05 02999. To find out more visit www.bit.ly/make-the-call

For any other fire safety advice, contactthe Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescuehelpline on: 01392 872288 or visit ourwebsite www.dsfire.gov.uk

More information and a leaflet isavailable at:

www.bit.ly/chimney-fire-safety

Get Sweeping for Chimney FireSafety Week!

Page 3

What is flu? Isn’t it just a heavy cold?How will I know I’ve got it?

Flu occurs every year, usually in thewinter, which is why it’s sometimes calledseasonal flu. It’s a highly infectiousdisease with symptoms that come onvery quickly. Colds are much less seriousand usually start gradually with a stuffyor runny nose and a sore throat. A badbout of flu can be much worse than aheavy cold.

The most common symptoms of flu arefever, chills, headache, aches and painsin the joints and muscles, and extremetiredness. Healthy individuals usuallyrecover within two to seven days, but for

some the disease can lead tohospitalisation, permanent disability oreven death.

What causes flu?

Flu is caused by influenza viruses thatinfect the windpipe and lungs. Andbecause it’s caused by viruses and notbacteria, antibiotics won’t treat it. If,however, there are complications fromgetting flu, antibiotics may be needed.

Flu is unpredictable. It is not possible topredict fully the strains that will circulateeach year, and there is always a risk of achange in the virus. However, this doesnot happen very often. During the lastten years the vaccine has generally beena good match for the circulating strains.The vaccine still provides the bestprotection available against anunpredictable virus that can cause severeillness.

The most likely viruses that will cause flueach year are identified in advance of theflu season in the UK and vaccines arethen made to match them as closely aspossible. The vaccines are given in theautumn ideally before flu startscirculating.

Flu vaccines protect against the mainthree or four types of flu virus most likelyto be circulating.

Who should consider having a fluvaccination?

All those who have any conditionlisted in the leaflet, or who are:• aged 65 years or over• living in a residential or nursinghome

• the main carer of an older ordisabled person

• a household contact of animmunocompromised person

• a frontline health or social careworker

• pregnant (see the next section)• children of a certain age

For more information and to downloadthe Leaflet explaining the importance ofthe influenza (flu) vaccination this winter2016 to 2017, especially for those atincreased risk, visit:www.bit.ly/flu-2016-17

Newsletter of the Devon Community Resilience Forum

The flu vaccinationWINTER 2016/17

The Community Energy Club issupporting the Buy Oil Early campaign,an initiative that encourageshouseholders to stock up on heating oilbefore the winter sets in. Launched byACRE, Citizens Advice and FPS

(Federation of Petroleum Suppliers) andbacked by Energy Minister Matt Hancock,the campaign draws attention to thebenefits of lower prices and promptdelivery for customers who plan ahead.

“It’s better to order early when demand islow and prices are low and to make sureno household is caught out, especially inremote and rural areas, where roads canbe disrupted and delivery times onlyincrease as the weather gets worse,”explained Mr Hancock.

The Energy Minister also reiterated thegrowing role of oil buying groups. “If youhaven’t thought about it, it’s worth

looking atestablishingor joining acommunitybuyinggroup whichmakes oil prices cheaper for individualhouseholds.”

For more information on the campaignvisit:

www.bit.ly/buy-early

Buy Early Heating Oil Campaign

We have a long history of extreme flashflooding in Devon. From the devastating1952 flood of Lynmouth, which claimed34 lives and destroyed over 34 buildingsto the Ottery St Mary event of 2008.

37 communities in Devon are particularlyvulnerable to this type of flooding. Thisis because of the geography of theirsurrounding landscape. Steep valleysides and short watercourses cause localriver levels to rise quickly followingrainfall. When sustained, intense rainfallfalls in this type of landscape, extremeflash floods can occur. We recommendthese three steps:

1. Be aware and know the signs, sothat you can act fast:

• Heavy rain or severe weatherreports.

• Rising water levels with churning,dark water.

• A build up of debris in rivers orstreams.

2. Do not walk or drive throughfloodwater.

3. Plan where to go if you get caughtin a flash flood. If you’re in a buildingwith a least two storeys and believe it issafe to stay where you are, you should:

• Seek shelter in the nearest two-storey building or go to higherground

• Call 999 if you are trapped and

wait for instructions from theemergency services

For further information and advice onhow to stay safe visit:

www.bit.ly/flash-flooding

Or, phone the Environment Agency on0370 850 6506 and ask to speak to yourlocal Flood Resilience Team.

For assistance with communityEmergency Planning your first point ofcontact is your City, District or BoroughEmergency Planning Officer.

You will find them listed below forreference and remember they are all thereto help you!

Don't forget, the DevonCommunities Together website has lots ofuseful information for both individuals andcommunities:

8 www.devoncommunities.org.uk

8 How can we help you

8 Devon Community ResilienceForum

Editor - Dom Maxwell-Batten dom.maxwell-batten@devon.gov.uk

Mid Devon East Devon North Devon TeignbridgeSouth Hams/West Devon Torridge Exeter

Amanda Palmer01271 388760amanda.palmer@northdevon.gov.uk

James Kershaw01803 861287james.kershaw@

southhams.gov.uk

Jude Hardiman01392 382634judith.hardiman@

devon.gov.uk

Pam Harvey01395 516551pharvey@

eastdevon.gov.uk

Julia Ryder01884 234997

jryder@middevon.gov.uk

Further information and support

Page 4

Environment Agency www.gov.uk/flood

Consumer Council for Water www.ccwater.org.uk

National Flood Forum www.floodforum.org.uk

Blue Pages Directory www.bluepages.org.uk

Association of British Insurers www.abi.org.uk or 020 7600 3333

British Insurance Brokers Association www.biba.org.uk or 0870 950 1790

Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors www.rics.org/flooding

Know Your Flood Risk campaign www.knowyourfloodrisk.co.uk

Floodline 0345 988 1188

Useful information:

CLEAR Plan www.dcisprepared.org.uk/a-clear-plan

Richard Haste01237 428963richard.haste@torridge.gov.uk

epu@teignbridge.gov.uk

Teignbridge

Flash Flooding - Know how to be safe!