Civil emergency whole system preparedness: 2025 report
Report on whole system civil emergency preparedness 2025 - COVID-19 recommendation eight.
4. Communications
Ready Scotland
The Scottish Government has a longstanding commitment to provide the public with advice on preparing for and responding to a range of emergencies. The Scottish Government’s Ready Scotland website (ready.scot) was established in 2011 to provide a public advice service on how to prepare the home, family, and business for disruption caused by emergencies, including extreme weather. It also provides information on how to respond, keep safe, and help others in the community when emergencies do occur.
The website is regularly promoted through its associated social media channels, and a public information marketing campaign can be activated in advance of severe weather, which uses geographically targeted social media and local radio to share preparedness advice. This activity helps to drive the improvement of individual’s preparedness and awareness of the risks they may face.
The reach of Ready Scotland at times of crisis is significant. During Storm Éowyn in January 2025, public advice pages were viewed over 23,500 times. The radio campaign reached over 500,000 people and digital messages appeared on screens more than 7.5 million times, connecting with the target audience across Scotland.
When emergencies do occur, the Scottish Government also works closely with categorised responders to support and amplify their public safety advice.
To support the integration of the voluntary sector into emergency management preparations in Scotland, the website now also provides learning resources to help individuals, community groups and voluntary sector organisations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a range of emergencies, and to better understand how to work with responder organisations. This includes material on partnership working, the role of community groups in emergencies, and the foundations of emergency management in Scotland.
Emergency Alerts
The Scottish Government works closely with the UK Government and resilience partners to support the ability to use the UK Government’s Emergency Alerts system in Scotland if required. Alerts can be sent by Government and emergency responders to provide warning and advice in a life-threatening emergency.
To strengthen the understanding of the Emergency Alerts system, the Scottish Government has provided guidance and training to categorised responders in Scotland on how to request an alert in emergency situations, if appropriate. In October and November 2024, over 140 categorised responders attended training sessions on Emergency Alerts which the Scottish Government held.
In January 2025, the UK Government and the Scottish Government agreed to send an alert in parts of Scotland due to the severity of the red weather warning issued for Storm Éowyn and Police Scotland advice not to travel. The alert was broadcast to between 4 and 5 million people across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.