STORM resilience minister Dan Jarvis MP will visit Cornwall today, a move which has been welcomed by the MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Andrew George.

Mr George’s constituency was badly hit last week by Storm Goretti, which not only brought power lines but also left much of the area surrounding Helston without water supply.

The MP summonsed the minister to the House of Commons on Tuesday to answer his questions about the government’s failure to declare a national emergency and to put more resource in support of the response to the storm, which ripped through Cornwall on Thursday, January 8.

“Though a week late, I’m pleased the Government agrees the impact of the storm deserves more government attention,” said Mr George, who will join Mr Jarvis on his visit. “The situation on the ground was worse than the assurances given by service providers. It was clear to me, by the time ministers spoke to me at the weekend, that they were basing their view on overly optimistic assurances in the briefings provided to them, and on the very limited ability of those most affected to communicate their circumstances.

“Though of course I believe the government’s decision not to declare a national emergency was wrong, and would have been different if it had happened in London and the south east, I’m sure we can agree we must all now concentrate on other matters and the consequences.”

Mr George explained these consequences include supporting those who are still struggling and traumatised; helping people and communities restore services including power and broadband; checking on vulnerable people who were off-grid and unable to communicate; helping the recovery of services, such as nursing and care homes which were damaged and are not fully functioning; learning lessons regarding contingencies and resilience; and thanking frontline workers and community volunteers.