Ready for winter?
Severe weather can strike at any time so taking action now will serve you well in winter, and all year round.
South Ayrshire Council wants all our residents to have a Brr-illiant winter, Christmas
and New Year.
We're proud to be working in partnership with the Scottish Government's 'Ready
for Winter' Campaign to make sure we all stay safe during the cold
weather.
Get ready at HOME
Getting ready for winter at home is easy. Just make a
household plan and collect together the items for an emergency kit
that will be essential to you and your family.
In an emergency you should call 999 and follow instructions.
Get ready at WORK
If the festive season is your busiest time of year, you won't want winter weather
holding your business back.
Whether its snow and ice disrupting transport, or floods risking damage to your
property or stock, there's no doubt winter can bring additional challenges.
Ready Business
provides straightforward advice and support to help you keep trading, whatever the
weather.
It is also worth checking your insurance policies and make sure that you are covered
for the risks that winter weather might bring.
Take particular care where buildings may have suffered structural damage - and don't
go on roofs to clear snow.
For those working in the freight industry there are winter driving tips
here from Freight Scotland.
Get ready on the MOVE
South Ayrshire Council has a comprehensive guide to its winter road maintenance programme,
gritting routes, grit bin locations and safety advice.
In really bad weather conditions your journey could take longer than expected. Get
ready for winter by packing a few essential items in your car. Your winter emergency
kit should include:
- An ice scraper and de-icer
- A torch and spare batteries
- A shovel for snow
- Warm clothes, boots and a blanket
- Some food and a warm drink in a flask
- A first aid kit
- Battery jump leads
- A map for any unplanned diversions
There’s a fantastic leaflet with lots of extra information and
travel advice.
Get ready in the COMMUNITY
Last year's severe winter weather struck quickly and as South Ayrshire is a rural
area, it left some people more vulnerable than others.
We were amazed by how well our communities responded, not just by using the grit
bins, but by looking out for others, helping them stay safe and warm.
By planning now and identifying family or neighbours who may need an extra helping
hand during winter, we can all make a real difference.
Have their phone numbers to hand, and offer to help with grocery shopping or other
essential tasks.
Clear ice or snow from your pathway. For some people bad ice can make things just
as difficult as deep snow.
Scottish Water's winter code - a set of simple steps you can take to protect
your pipes, be prepared and heat, insulate and protect your home and business is
also an excellent guide and well worth reading.
You can volunteer to help others during winter by contacting Volunteer Scotland.
Some inspiring examples of how communities across Scotland are working together
to
build their resilience are included in
My Community.
How to respond in an emergency
Keeping calm, knowing what to do and how to get help in an emergency is one of the
best ways of dealing with the impact of severe weather.
Really useful advice on responding to
emergencies at home, while travelling, loss of utilities, accessing local services
and support and how to cope with the thaw is available from Ready Scotland website.
Essential contacts
You can contact South Ayrshire Council on: 0300 123 0900.
Other emergency contacts: