Updated Community Resilience and Emergency Plan 2026
As a Community Council, we have a responsibility to help our community prepare for emergencies and build local resilience. Recognising the importance of keeping our Community Resilience Plan up to date, the current Community Council brought together a group of local volunteers in February this year to review and refresh the plan.
Since then, the group has worked collaboratively to develop a refreshed plan, and we have now completed a draft for wider consideration. Click here to read draft plan .
This plan is primarily concerned with what the community response should be if an incident or crisis happens and what the impact(s) might be, it is not intended to provide detailed advice on how individuals and the community can prepare in advance for these incidents.
This first draft was developed using other examples and templates recommended by the Scottish Government, with input from PKC Resilience Team, Scottish Fire and Rescue, NHS Tayside and Adaptation Scotland, we then researched locally available information and now we need the wider community to help shape it.
The plan focuses on the risks most likely to affect our community, including flooding, severe storms, power outages, extreme heat and other major incidents. It aims to identify how the community can respond to these events, how information can be shared during an emergency and how residents can support one another when additional help may be needed.
It is important to recognise that community resilience complements, rather than replaces, the role of emergency services, local authorities and utility companies.
We want the final plan to reflect local knowledge, priorities and experience, while building on the advice and guidance received from organisations involved in resilience and emergency planning and we will share details of the public engagement event and opportunities to comment through the Community Council’s official communication channels in the coming weeks. We encourage everyone with an interest in helping make Dunkeld and Birnam a more resilient community to take part.
A new Climate Ready Tayside Handbook, “Staying Safe and Preparing Your Home for Extreme Weather” will be delivered with the November Bridge and will provide advice on how individuals and households can prepare for climate-related risks.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed ideas, expertise and feedback so far.
Flooding
Flooding is one of the most significant risks affecting our area and has been an important consideration in developing the updated Community Resilience and Emergency Plan.
Recent events have highlighted how quickly conditions can change, the impact flooding can have on roads and access, and the importance of timely information and community awareness.
As part of the wider resilience work, consideration is being given to how flood warnings and river level information can be shared, how local responses can be coordinated and how residents can support one another during flooding. Practical advice on preparing homes and households for flooding will also be available through the Climate Ready Tayside handbook.
Dunkeld Flood Protection Scheme
Separate from the Community Resilience and Emergency Plan, Perth and Kinross Council is progressing the Dunkeld Flood Protection Scheme, which aims to reduce the risk of flooding from the Spoutwells and Sawmill Brae Burns to homes and businesses in Dunkeld.
The scheme has included flood modelling, ground investigations, archaeological work and consultation with the local community. Perth and Kinross Council is responsible for developing the scheme and provides updates as the project progresses.
Click here to view the latest information and updates from Perth and Kinross Council on the Dunkeld Flood Protection Scheme.
Additional support during power cuts
Some residents may be eligible for additional support during power cuts through the SSEN Priority Services Register. This free service is designed for people who may need extra help, including older residents, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and households with young children.
SSEN provides additional assistance to registered customers during power interruptions, including priority communication and support appropriate to their circumstances.
If you think you or someone you know may qualify, you can find out more and register through the SSEN Priority Services Register .