Preparing for an Emergency

Emergencies can occur without warning and may cause disruptions. Pre-planning and taking small steps to reduce risk will increase your resilience and might help to limit the impacts of an incident.

To prepare for an emergency, you should take time to find out and plan in advance:

• Where and how to turn off water, gas and electricity supplies in your home
• The emergency procedures for your children at school
• The emergency procedures at your workplace
• How your family will stay in contact in the event of an emergency
• If any elderly or vulnerable neighbours might need your help
• How to tune in to your local radio station

The general advise is if you are affected by an incident near by is (if it is safe to do so) GO IN, STAY IN, TUNE IN

Remember during an emergency to always follow the advise of the emergency services. Try to remain calm and ensure anything you do does not put yourself or other in danger.

During an emergency it is useful to have some essential items prepared. These items should be stored in a grab bag which is easily accessible to everyone in your family. Items in your grab bag might change seasonally or depending on the needs of your household, so make sure it is regularly checked

• A list of useful phone numbers, such as your doctor's and close relatives'
• Home and car keys
• Toiletries, sanitary supplies and any regularly prescribed medication
• A battery radio, with spare batteries
• A torch with spare batteries
• A first aid kit
• Your mobile phone and charger
• Cash and payment cards
• Spare clothes and blankets
• Important documents such as insurance or finances

In case of a power cut it might also be useful to have:

• Bottled water
• Ready to eat food (e.g. tinned food)
• A bottle opener and tin opener

In certain very unlikely situations you may be asked to leave your home by the emergency services or you may choose to leave home yourself. If this happens, leave as quickly and calmly as possible. If you have time, turn off electricity, gas and water supplies, unplug appliances and lock all doors and windows.

If you leave by car, take bottled water and blankets, and tune in to local radio stations for emergency advice and instructions.

Make sure you have contacted a friend, relative or neighbour to tell them where you are going and contact them when you have arrived so you can be found if the emergency services or council need to contact you.

When you are told that it is safe to return home, open windows to provide fresh air before reconnecting gas, electricity and water supplies.

Click here to find out more information about preparing for flooding.

Updated September 2023 - Review due September 2024