Nottinghamshire County Council urges residents to be prepared for winter operations.

Recent years have seen significant flooding and storms cause disruption to road users and council services and Bassetlaw residents will remember the devastation of autumn 2019.

With the prospect of such events compounding the problems of the pandemic, people are being asked to think how they can personally prepare for similar conditions and help any particularly vulnerable neighbours who may be affected.

Councillor John Cottee, chairman of the communities and place committee, said: “We know that winter weather can be unpredictable, and so we are advising our communities to ensure they are prepared for whatever conditions the next few months bring.

“For example, ask yourself the question ‘would I know what to do should a flood occur in my area?’ or ‘which items should I keep in my car during winter?’”

He added: “Advice on staying well and warm in winter can also be found on our website alongside tips for driving in heavy rain, snow, flooding, high winds and ice.”

Essential tips include knowing the flood risk of your property, knowing the actions to take in the event of flood warnings being issued, carrying out safety checks on your vehicle, staying warm, and knowing how to drive in winter conditions.

The website also contains the latest updates on how the pandemic is affecting council services and with the possibility of Nottinghamshire moving into different restriction tiers, it is worth monitoring for changes.

Coun Cottee said: “Our advice to residents is to take a few minutes to have a read of our advice.

“If previous winters have taught us anything, it’s that conditions and forecasts can change quickly and so it’s good to be prepared.

“Our gritting teams have already been out on 14 gritting runs since going on full-time standby on November 1, and although our forestry, flooding and emergency response teams may not be as visible, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t prepared and ready to act at any given time to keep Nottinghamshire safe.”

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/2Kv1409.