What would you do...eh?

It used to be called civil defence and its what you did if a two megaton airburst was detonated at 5000 ft over Cranfield after a threat to West Berlin was mishandled by NATO. Duck and cover.


Today its known as 'local resilence' which sounds like measures to stop bored youths toppling a wonky wall in the middle of the village. But its civil defence by another name.

There's no doubt that flooding in particular is rising menace. One of the best ways of stopping it is not to build on flood plains. But that will go on I  understand (thanks to my inside source at the Lodden Valley Residents Association). As for the other threats such as flu pandemic or hurricanes

mentioned by the Bedfordshire and Luton Local Resilience Forum in a recent mailing - well resourced and accountable emergency services might not be a bad idea. But thats off the agenda I too I believe, thanks to my inside source in government called All News Media. 

You might bump into a BLLRF stall at some pleasant summer fete. Here's what they want you to do: 

The Bedford and Luton Local Resilience Forum has created the What Would You Do If...? events stall to take to local fetes, family fun days and community events to prepare the residents of Bedfordshire and Luton for emergencies.

Visitors to the stall can receive advice about planning for an emergency, pick up literature with useful advice on how to start planning for an emergency in the home, complete emergency postcard, learn how to prepare an emergency kit and fill in survey about emergency planning and a chance to win an iPad 2. There is even a kid’s colouring corner, where children can complete worksheets and win a Peppa Pig fire engine.

After the events, visitors are encouraged to take photos and videos of them putting their newly acquired emergency planning advice into practice and uploading them on to http://www.facebook.com/whatwouldyoudoif

Sounds like a riot. I presume there are preparations in hand for that too.