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).

Visit www.Gov.uk/prepare for more advice on how to prepare for emergencies.

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a list of current medication (or spares so long as they do not go out of date)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.