Numerous comments recognised the socioeconomic benefits of adapting now, as well as the need to accept that change is coming. Some suggested that we need to become accustomed to changes in order to maintain mental health, and that we should be working with nature in order to adapt:

“Realise socioeconomic benefits of adapting now & grow accustomed before it’s too late.”
“…Adaptation is about what we can do in advance, and so so much better (and cheaper) than trying to clear up after the event.”
“Accept that change is coming, work with nature to adapt.”

There were also comments about community adaptation that were specific and practical. They acknowledged the layered response needed to respond to climate change, from local measures to the adoption of wider, more general principles:

“Property level protection & resilience measures. Natural flood management.”
“Building knowledge and community-based emergency plans. Advanced flood/weather warning systems where possible. Multi-agency planning & response.”

It is worth noting some of the existing partnerships and services that relate to this:

• The Environment Agency’s free flood warning service delivers alerts by text, phone or email. Alerts are also available for Met Office weather warnings.

• The Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum is a multi-agency partnership working to plan and prepare for incidents and catastrophic emergencies. It includes representatives from the emergency services, local authorities, the NHS, and the Environment Agency.

• Somerset Prepared is a partnership that includes communities and the voluntary sector alongside these statutory bodies, delivering advice, support and training to help communities be better prepared for emergencies.

Some comments raised the prospect of difficult future decisions, demonstrating the full scale of adaptation measures that could be required to address the impacts of climate change:

”Relocating communities – investing in buying out most vulnerable properties.”

Within the workshops for councillors, participants were invited to explore the effect of climate change on the community. Comments on potential impacts included:  

"Communities need to re-think normalcy of flooding."
"Find areas to make space for flooding."
"Displacement of communities - will we be here?"
"Fairness - how can we adapt? What community support is there?"
"How do we collect excess water and store for droughts?"
"Sewage issues."
"Loss of rural businesses."