Somerset Council’s Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is active in Somerset.
This will be active from Monday 22 June and will be in place until Thursday 25 June when it will be reviewed.
The SWEP response is used by many local authorities when there is a heat wave. Severe weather also includes when the temperature drops to 0 degrees celsius or below, high winds and flooding.
Outreach teams are currently contacting rough sleepers in Somerset to offer support during SWEP.
Our teams will be increasing welfare checks and offering:
- Drinking water to stay hydrated
- Sunscreen and sun hats to reduce exposure
- Signposting and support to access cool, safe spaces during the hottest parts of the day
- Trained staff who can recognise and respond to signs of heat-related illness
SWEP in Somerset has two aims:
- To ensure that no one dies on the streets due to severe weather
- To ensure that every effort is made to engage individuals with support
A spokesperson for the Council said:
“If you’re concerned that someone is rough sleeping in Somerset during the severe weather, please visit StreetLink to refer them.
You can also call 0300 123 22 24 during office hours and 0300 123 23 27 out of office hours.”
When SWEP is active, important information can be found on this webpage: www.somerset.gov.uk/swep.
You can also learn more about rough sleeping on the Council’s help for people who are rough sleeping page.
