Written question WQ97723

As our weather becomes more extreme and less predictable, we work with our partners, to address the impacts on those communities facing the effects of severe weather events. The safety of our communities is our highest priority. We continue to work closely with the emergency services and the Welsh Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) in planning for emergencies and subsequently providing strategic support during an incident.

We work with the emergency services to provide information to the public in a number of ways. This includes convening the Wales Warning & Informing Network, which brings together communication leads from emergency responder and LRF organisations on a weekly basis. During emergencies, this forum can help to coordinate public messaging, plans and materials.

During severe weather events, which have a potential to cause flooding, such as those seen in Monmouth recently (Storm Claudia), Natural Resources Wales (NRW) provide a Flood Warning Information Service for Wales and issue consistent flood warnings and safety advice direct to the public through coordinated channels.

In the most severe, life-threatening emergencies, the UK Government Emergency Alert (EA) system can be utilised. As seen during Storm Darragh in December 2024, an alert is sent directly to mobile phones in the affected area, containing an emergency message and relevant advice. Before and during severe weather events, Welsh Government officials work closely with the emergency responders to support the process of assessing the need and in the deployment of an EA.