inform-residents-newsletter-winter-2016 (2)

Inform Winter 2016 19 In brief Fermanagh and Omagh District Council works with the emergency services and other agencies such as Rivers Agency, TransportNI and NI Water to plan for and help respond effectively to all emergency situations including severe weather. Events such as snow, floods and strong winds can impact significantly on our daily lives so it is important that people know what to do to prepare. The following information aims to provide you with useful tips on how to prepare in your home, in your community and on the move. Omagh benefits from over £300,000 Revitalisation and Environmental Improvement Schemes Omagh town centre has benefitted from over £300,000 funding for Revitalisation and Environmental Improvement Schemes in the last year. A total of 38 businesses in Campsie availed of shop front improvements through £100,000 funding from the Department for Communities, and an additional 10 businesses participated in a valuable retail mentoring scheme. Meanwhile a £226,000 Environmental Improvement Scheme and Revitalisation Project, also funded by the Department for Communities, is nearing completion in the Old Market Yard. The environmental works include the replacement of pavements, street lighting, railings, street furniture and signage, while the Revitalisation Project, which will be complete by March next year, will enable property owners to upgrade their shop frontage. Weather Conditions & Warnings Keep up-to-date with the latest weather forecast and weather warnings from the Met Office by visiting www.metoffice. gov.uk or downloading their app. Flooding You can find out if your property is at risk from flooding by logging on to the Rivers Agency’s strategic flood maps at: www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/ what-flood-maps-ni . Flood Re is a joint government and insurance industry initiative to allow you to find affordable insurance for your home if it is at risk of flooding or has been flooded. For more information, visit www.floodre.co.uk/ homeowner . The Flooding Incident Line is Northern Ireland’s single telephone number for people to report any flooding problems. You can contact the Flooding Incident Line 24 hours a day to report any flooding incidents such as problems on the roads, burst mains or blocked drains. Please call 0300 2000 100 . Support for Vulnerable People Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) offer a critical care information service to customers who are dependent on life supporting electrical equipment. Customers on this register will receive up-to-date information by phone during a power cut or a planned interruption. Please call 03457 643 643 to register. Mains Water Supply Northern Ireland Water offers a range of additional services to older customers or customers who have serious medical conditions or need extra help for any other reason. Please contact Northern Ireland Water’s Waterline on 03457 440 088 . In Your Home The Council has worked with other partners to develop guidance that will help you prepare for emergencies in your home and deal with the impact of severe weather in your community. This guidance is available on the “Preparing for severe weather” section of www.fermanaghomagh.com . It is useful to have an emergency kit in your home: suggested contents include battery/windup radio and torch, spare batteries, candles and matches, a phone that doesn’t require mains electric to work, list of useful numbers, list of medications that you are taking, and copies of household insurance policies. It is important to make sure your heating is safe and that your house is properly ventilated, to reduce the risk of Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Know how to turn off your electricity supply at the mains. Know where your stop valve is and how to turn off your water. Follow NI Water’s advice on protecting your pipes. Please visit www.niwater.com for details. In Your Community In previous years severe weather left some people vulnerable. Helping each other a little can make a big difference. Identify family members or neighbours who may need an extra helping hand if severe weather strikes. • Have their phone numbers to hand • Offer help with grocery shopping or other essential tasks • Clear ice or snow from their pathways If you are part of a community group, think about what your group can do to help others during bad weather. On The Move Before travelling, tune into the local forecast and Met Office warnings. Check the road conditions and think about alternative routes and allow extra time for your journey. TransportNI provides a website detailing current traffic information and road conditions for Northern Ireland. Please visit www.trafficwatchni.com . Fully charge your mobile phone and take a charger with you. Make sure you have appropriate clothing, equipment and food. Pack an emergency travel kit – this will stand you in good stead at any time of the year. If your area is at risk of flooding, remember you should not drive or walk through flood water. Six inches or 15cm of fast-flowing water can knock over an adult and two feet or just over ½ m can move a car. Enniskillen Business Improvement District (BID) Enniskillen is the first town in the district and just the sixth in Northern Ireland to say ‘Yes’ to developing a Business Improvement District (BID). BID is an initiative where businesses come together to decide what improvements are needed in their area above and beyond those governed by statutory provision. The Council congratulates the BID Task Team on their success and will continue to support them in their work. The Enniskillen BID will deliver specific projects under the themes of Boost Business, Entice Customers and Enhance Experience. It is expected the BID Task Team will direct and deliver almost £1.2 million investment in the BID area over the next five years. NewYear, NewYou! ASPIRE, supporting people into paid employment If you are aged 16 and over and currently unemployed then start something new with ASPIRE. ASPIRE supports: • Parents returning to work Qualifications & training, work placements and support of personal mentor to build confidence • Recently redundant Develop a CV, complete job applications, preparation for interview & short courses to update skills • Long-term unemployed Build confidence, gain skills and qualifications alongside a work placement with 1-1 mentoring • Graduates Work placements sourced to your specific need • School leavers Careers guidance, NVQ Level 1 qualifications, work experience placements, job search Participation on ASPIRE is free. Register now for January starts by contacting ASPIRE today: Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, The Sperrin Centre, 1 Market Street, Omagh, BT78 1EE Tel: 028 8224 6535 Fermanagh Rural Community Initiative, 56 Tempo Road, Tonystick, Enniskillen, BT74 6HR Tel 028 6632 6478 W: www.fermanaghomaghaspire.com E: aspire@fermanaghomagh.com Aspire Employability Programme Preparing for severe weather Before After This project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014- 2020 and the Department for the Economy