A risk and resilience booklet has been created to help residents prepare for emergencies.

The emergency planning team at Braintree Council has been working to pull together the most likely risks which could affect people living and working in the district.

The biggest risk is flooding, but residents can prepare by signing up to receive flood warnings, investing in flood protection products and identifying neighbours who might need more support in the event of flooding.

Councillor Wendy Schmitt, responsible for emergency planning, said: “This document is all about being prepared.

"It doesn’t mean there are strong threats of anything happening but we are just urging residents to take simple steps to make sure that if there was an emergency they would be ready.”

The document also includes information on how residents can keep their home, family and businesses safe during periods of other extreme weather as well as information about what to do in the event of a flu pandemic, loss of utilities, a terrorist attack or cyber-attack.

Resident can sign up for the council’s emergency planning newsletter and alerts at braintree.gov.uk/tellmemore.