Minister of State Dan Jarvis MP has been in Cornwall to hear how Storm Goretti affected local properties, and what lessons can be learned from the event.
A car crushed by a falling tree in St Ives. Photo: Ed Norbury
St Ives MP Andrew George, who met the visitor both at the Eden Project and in his own constituency, said the minister came with an open mind and had his eyes opened.
“I don’t doubt his sincere intention to listen and assist,” said Mr George. “However, having been invited last weekend to an Emergency Ministerial Strategic Response Group meeting, I fear ministers seem to be surrounded by people who exist in a culture of always presenting reassurance that ‘everything is under control’ and that they’re doing their jobs phenomenally well!”
Dan Jarvis MP (second left) and Andrew George MP meet Cornwall chief fire officer, Kathryn Billings, and deputy, Jim Pearce
The minister heard from people who were are are handling realities on the ground. They reported that:
- The Red Alert was declared too late;
- The emergency alert wasn’t received by many (or was received after the storm passed);
- Though frontline workers’ and community volunteers’ actions were heroic, it was difficult to manage when communications collapsed;
- The elderly and vulnerable were left without support for too long;
- Priority registers of different services didn’t correspond and left many people without assistance;
- Naive faith in modern digital technologies proved to be ill-advised;
- The government funding support (Bellwin) formula may not help Scilly and Cornwall;
- Many communications — especially broadband — have not yet been restored, and it may take many weeks before this happens; and
- The strong sense that if this devastation had been visited on London and the Home Counties, a stronger national response from the government and media would have been forthcoming.
Mr George said: “I’m grateful the minister visited, and I will follow up each of these issues and more with him and other ministers. Thank you to all those who have done so much to assist our communities so far.”
