Everyone living in the Highlands should take time to recognise and understand the types of risks that could affect their community. By doing so, we can all take practical steps to be better prepared for emergencies or major incidents when they arise.

At a UK national level the risks to the nation are assessed by UK Government and detailed in the National Risk Register. The current version was published on 12th August 2026. The National Risk Register is also referred to as the NRR.

The National Risk Register includes information about 87 standalone risks and 8 linked scenarios. 95 risks in all. Those included are considered to have the potential for a substantial impact on the UK’s safety, security and or critical systems at a national level. The NRR assesses the likelihood and impact for each risk and grades the level of risk accordingly.

In Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) plays a key role in assessing these risks in a more local context. Through ongoing evaluations, they help identify the challenges facing communities across the Highlands. This work is brought together in a Community Risk Register, which outlines the most significant local risks and aims to ensure communities are informed, prepared, and ready to respond effectively in an emergency. In Highland our Community Risk Register is that of the North of Scotland and the current version was published in 2024.

Communities are strongly advised to consider risks in their own communities and understand how they would be affected if those more local risks occurred, including how different risks could interact and affect essential services. Once identified these risks form the basis of a Community Resilience Plan for emergencies.