Helping communities prepare for extreme weather and climate change

A Leeds academic has produced a series of booklets to help people cope with extreme weather, as the effects of climate change leave communities facing more devastating storms, floods and heatwaves.

Dr Ali Malik from the University's School of Law has done extensive research into how local communities and authorities can prepare for extreme weather - and has now produced information leaflets on heat, snow, flooding and storms. The leaflets bring together existing local and national government guidance on emergency preparedness.

Dr Malik said: "As the effects of climate change become more and more apparent, we know we in Yorkshire and the UK will face more extreme weather - including floods, storms and heatwaves.

"We need to ensure everyone - especially the most vulnerable people in society - are properly prepared to cope with these events, and there are simple things we can all do to protect ourselves and our families."

As the effects of climate change become more and more apparent, we know we in Yorkshire and the UK will face more extreme weather - including floods, storms and heatwaves.

Flooding is one of the most significant and costly climate-related hazards in the UK. Ten years on from the devastating Boxing Day floods which hit large parts of Yorkshire in 2015, rising sea levels and more intense rainfall are increasing the frequency and severity of both coastal and inland floods.

Dr Malik is working with Leeds-based environmental group Climate Action Leeds (CAL) to circulate the leaflets in the city. Martin Flynn, Climate Action Leeds Network Coordinator at Voluntary Action Leeds said:

"The CAL Network's aim is to empower, connect, and support community-led climate action in Leeds. A key part of that is helping to build links between community groups and experts, as well as ensuring that the impactful work being done in Leeds is circulated as widely as possible.

"We applaud Ali's efforts on practical, systemic solutions - particularly for people more likely to be hit hard by climate events - as they address some of the most pressing risks for communities in Leeds and elsewhere.

"While it is not the responsibility of individuals to solve the problems of climate change, actionable advice to help protect yourself, friends, and family is invaluable. We are pleased to be able to share Ali's work across our platforms and look forward to continuing to work with him and his university colleagues in future."

The four leaflets - which are available to download from the University of Leeds Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre website - cover flooding, storms, extreme cold and snow, and extreme heat. Each sets out actions that people can take before the weather event, during it, and afterwards; as well as community actions that local authorities or voluntary groups can do.

Before flooding, they recommend learning how to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies in your home, using inflatable bungs to block water coming up toilets, and preparing a "flood kit" in case you need to leave your home.

Advice for after flooding includes being cautious of drinking water, checking on neighbours, and contacting insurers and landlords as early as possible.

Dr Malik's work was funded by the University of Leeds and prepared in collaboration with the London Resilience Unit, part of the Greater London Authority. However, the advice is applicable anywhere, and the leaflets are available for free.

While it is not the responsibility of individuals to solve the problems of climate change, actionable advice to help protect yourself, friends, and family is invaluable.

This work builds on his earlier research into Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) - the partnerships of local organisations including councils, police, the NHS and fire and rescue services, which cooperate during emergencies like flooding.

Dr Malik's research found that although LRFs play a vital role in responding to crises, they are poorly resourced and often rely on good relationships between the key players, as well as negotiations and goodwill. Decisive leadership, routine coordination and experience of dealing with past events were described as key factors for effective emergency response.

Dr Malik's research recommends the need for closer collaboration between LRFs and volunteer and grassroots community organisations, better professional and specialist support for LRFs, along with targeted funding to resource localised efforts for preparedness, recovery, and long-term climate adaptation.

Practical improvements - including unified call handling systems - could also make the cooperation more efficient, he added.

Further information