Planning for the unexpected

We'll soon be marking the first anniversary of the terrible floods which struck Hull last summer.
Thousands of us were affected - and many residents' lives are still far from normal.
While we can't prevent natural disasters from happening – there's a great deal we can do to stay safe should they strike.
There's also a great deal we can do to limit the damage and disruption which major emergencies can cause to our lives.
That's why the council has produced a booklet containing advice and guidance about how to act in major emergencies.
It's being delivered to every home in the city with this issue of Hull in print. If you haven't received one please call 300300.
Public safety will also be high on the agenda at a national crime reduction conference to be held at the KC Stadium next month.
It's being attended by police and council officers from 44 regions across the country who will share their experiences of building safer communities.
Arguably, there is no better city in which to hold such a conference – because Hull has recorded a 41 per cent drop in recorded crime over the past three years – and that one of the highest reductions anywhere in the country.
But it's only a start.
While we can be reassured that Hull's crime rate is now more in line with other parts of Britain – we must realise that there is still a long way to go to make this a really safe city.
You can read more about the conference on page 12 and 13.
Taking pride in our city is also important – and on pages 16 and 17 you can read all about how volunteers are helping to keep Hull tidy.
The volunteers – known as 'community surveyors' – regularly make checks around their local neighbourhoods and report back to the council about problems such things as litter, fly-tipping and graffiti.
It's just one of the ways in which we're encouraging people to get involved in making their local area a better place to live.

Cllr Carl Minns
Leader, Hull City Council