William to launch emergency preparedness initiative during Somerset visit

The Prince of Wales will visit Somerset to launch a new initiative aimed at helping communities prepare for emergencies and extreme weather.

William will travel to Ilminster on Tuesday to see how residents, volunteers, businesses and emergency services are working together to respond to threats including flooding and wildfires.

During the visit, the prince will launch Ready Together, a National Emergencies Trust project providing communities across the UK with practical guidance to help them prepare for and respond to emergencies.

William, who is patron of the trust, will join volunteers and young people taking part in a training exercise involving a series of emergency scenarios.

William will visit a fire station (Rui Vieira/PA)

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A spokesman for Kensington Palace said: “Research has shown that people are very willing to help in an emergency, including to support their neighbours during a crisis.

“At the same time, far fewer feel their communities have the structures and plans in place to respond effectively.

“Ready Together seeks to bridge that gap by turning goodwill into practical preparedness.”

William will also meet members of the Ilminster Resilience Group, which has supported residents during severe flooding, and visit Sweet Surprise, a cafe providing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities.

The visit will conclude at Ilminster Fire Station, where William will meet Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service representatives and learn about mapping and forecasting tools being used to prepare for the growing risk of wildfires.