Preparing for an emergency

It will help you be 'ready to react' if you:

  • know how to turn off water, gas and electricity in your home
  • know the emergency procedures for your workplace and/or child’s school
  • consider how your family will stay in touch in the event of an emergency – mobile networks may be jammed, cordless telephones need power to work
  • have a household emergency plan ready. Who would you stay with if your home was evacuated?
  • list of useful contact numbers
  • ask whether elderly or vulnerable neighbours might want/need your assistance in the event of an emergency
  • have a battery powered (with spare batteries) or wind up radio in your home and know how to tune into your local radio stations. 
  • have a torch (wind up or battery powered), candles and matches in your home (kept out of reach of children)
  • have a supply of bottled water, ready to eat food (for example tinned) and a tin opener in your home
  • have an emergency kit prepared in a 'ready bag' (see below for more information on what to include) or a list of things you would need and where to find them in a hurry
  • find out whether your home is subject to any specific risks, such as flooding, and what you can do to help protect it
  • sign up for flood warnings (if appropriate in your area).

Prepare an emergency kit

Keeping a bag of items you might need in an emergency is a great way to be ready to react. You may want to keep an emergency kit in your car, and your home, or just a list of where to find the items. 

Ideally, your ready bag might contain the following:

  • photocopies of important documents (such as passport, insurance certificates, driving licence, pet vaccination certificates)
  • a list of current medication (or spares so long as they do not go out of date)
  • household emergency plan with contact details of members of the family you will need to inform, local doctors number, etc
  • a change of clothes per person or an emergency blanket
  • torch (with spare batteries if not wind up) /candles and matches
  • radio (with spare batteries if not wind up)
  • bottled water (to be changed regularly as noted on best before dates)
  • sanitary items and toiletries
  • in date tinned food and tin opener/long life snacks
  • first aid kit
  • mobile phone and wind up or battery powered charger.

You may also want to consider including:

  • antibacterial hand wipes/gel
  • checklist of items in the kit
  • a basic tool kit.

Get the latest updates:

Tune in to local radio

  • BBC Radio Nottingham - 103.8 and 95.5 FM
  • Capital FM - 96.2-96.5 FM
  • Lincs FM (Newark area only) - 102.2 FM
  • Trax FM (Bassetlaw area only) - 107.9 FM.

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