The government is to begin testing an alert system for floods, industrial accidents and other hazards that uses text messages to warn people. Easingwold, North Yorkshire is one of three locations that will pilot the scheme over the next three months.
A select group of people in Easingwold, near York will receive a text message on Wednesday giving them an advanced warning of a disaster.
The project is part of a Government pilot scheme to see how effective the system is.
"I would personally like to thank the local community for their amazing donations of food, toiletries and clothing. "
Owners John and Irene Hays say there is ''light at the end of the tunnel'', after the pandemic forced them to close 650 UK stores.
There has been resistance to calls to dismantle memorials to the explorer.