Before an Emergency
How to Prepare
Consider the risks you might face:
Do you live in a Flood Risk area? Flood Risk Maps
www.environment-agency.gov.uk and
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Information
Do you live near any Industrial Processing Industries click here
for COMAH
information
Do you live on the Coast in an area subject to erosion?
Do you live in an area where power / utilities are often subject
to disruption in severe weather?
See Also
DEFRA - Flood
Portal
For information on some of the main risks which the Northumbria
LRF has identified go to the Community
Risk Register
Reducing Threat from River and Coastal Change
Planning for emergencies in advance can minimise the disruption
you might face and could even save lives.
Have a look at
Preparing for Emergencies for more advice. You might also look
at the interactive preparing for Flood
Advice on the Environment Agency webite
Consider making your own Emergency
Checklist of the actions and key contacts you will need in the
event of an emergency requiring you to evacuate from your home.
Consider putting together an Emergency "Grab Bag" to keep in a safe place ready in
case the worst happens.
Consider whether your buildings and contents insurance gives you
cover for the key risks likely to affect your
home.
See - Obtaining
Flood Insurance in High Risk Areas
Make a note of insurance policy numbers and copies of the
policies to keep in your Grab Bag
Consider enrolling for a First Aid course for you / your family
for any medical emergencies
Identify where your gas / electricity and water services come
into your home and how to turn them off (stop cocks) in the event
of an emergency.
Make a list of key emergency service numbers (Police, Ambulance,
Fire and Rescue, and Water, Gas , Electricity suppliers for
example) and keep a copy in the Grab Bag.
Make sure family members know where the Grab Bag is located and don't forget to
update the contents of the Emergency Checklist from time
to time as contact numbers etc may change.
See also
During an
Emergency
After an
Emergency
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