When ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ Runs Up Against Rising Waters
Across much of the UK, communities are grappling with the aftermath of Storm Babet. Record rainfall caused widespread flooding, particularly in eastern Scotland, but also impacting areas of England. Thousands were evacuated from their homes, transport networks were thrown into chaos, and a red weather warning – the highest alert level – was issued. Reports detail families rescued from stranded vehicles, businesses submerged, and the long, arduous task of recovery now underway. The sheer scale of the disruption, and the knowledge that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such events, has prompted a national conversation about preparedness and resilience.
The Spirit in Action
Even amidst the devastation, the typical hallmarks of community spirit are emerging. Reports from affected areas show residents rallying to support their neighbours. In Brechin, Angus, locals opened their homes to those displaced by the flooding, providing shelter, food, and comfort. Social media is abuzz with appeals for donations of essential items – blankets, toiletries, and cleaning supplies – and offers from volunteers ready to assist with the clean-up.
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The response isn’t limited to individual acts of kindness. Emergency services, already stretched, demonstrated tireless dedication. Firefighters waded through chest-deep water to reach vulnerable residents, while mountain rescue teams deployed boats to evacuate entire communities. Councils have set up emergency rest centres and are working to restore essential services, and the Army has been deployed to assist in the recovery effort. This rapid, coordinated response— driven by both professionals and volunteers— speaks to a deep-seated instinct to help others in times of crisis.
Echoes of 1940
Angus Calder, in his seminal work The Myth of the Blitz, powerfully dismantled the overly romanticised image of British stoicism during the Second World War. He showed that while resilience did exist, it wasn’t universal, nor was it simply an inherent national characteristic. Fear, anxiety, and disruption were rampant. There were cracks in the facade of ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. However, the Blitz did forge strong community bonds born of shared adversity. People relied on neighbours, shared resources, and endured hardship together.
The parallels with the present are obvious, yet crucial distinctions remain. The Blitz was a defined enemy, a clear threat. Storm Babet is different. It’s a consequence of a global crisis, a slow-burn emergency fuelled by decades of inaction. This makes collective action harder to focus, and the psychological toll arguably more insidious. While the wartime spirit rested on a sense of collective purpose— defeating a common enemy— climate change demands significant lifestyle changes and systemic shifts that are politically fraught. The Blitz demanded endurance; today demands preventative action.
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Moreover, Calder highlighted the privleges that underpinned the narrative of wartime resilience. Access to shelter, resources, and support were not evenly distributed during the Blitz, just as they aren’t during flooding events. Those most vulnerable—the elderly, the disabled, those in precarious housing—bear the brunt of both crises. Remembering 1940 shouldn’t be about glorifying hardship, but about acknowledging the inequalities that are always exposed, and often exacerbated, during times of trouble.
Close
Storm Babet is a harsh reminder of the challenges ahead, and a test of our collective capacity to respond, not just in the immediate aftermath, but in the long-term. It’s about offering practical support to those affected now, and committing to the difficult work of building a more resilient future – one that addresses the root causes of escalating climate events. Check on your neighbours, donate to flood relief funds, and demand action from our leaders. The ‘Blitz spirit’ wasn’t about denying fear, it was about facing it together.
Sources:
Angus Calder, The Myth of the Blitz (1991).
