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Home Page > Community and living > Emergency Management & Response > Coping with an emergency
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Are you prepared to cope with an emergency?

 

Emergencies can happen quickly and without warning.  It can mean the loss of basic services including water, power, gas and telephones.  It could mean damage or threat of damage to your property - for example by flooding, fire or blast.  It could mean evacuation from your home or from your whole neighbourhood.  It could mean your family would find it difficult to stay in contact.  The emergency services, local authority and the utilities will be at the scene, but they cannot reach  everyone right away.

 

Be prepared...

Melton Boprough Council prepares and maintains contingency plans to assist in its response to major civil emergencies.  However, it is important that we are all prepared - a few preparations now can ensure your best protection in disaster situations.

Following the steps detailed here will help you produce your own emergency plan.

 

To be prepared always:

  • Keep a battery powered torch to hand
  • Have a battery powered or wind up radio available
  • Maintain a supply of ready-to-eat food that does not need preparation or cooking
  • Keep a supply of fresh bottled water
  • Have some warm clothing or blankets available
  • Do not rely solely on a mobile phone as it may need recharging and networks may become overloaded
  • Keep a supply of spare batteries
  • Have all medication and prescriptions in an accessible place in case you are asked to evacuate
  • Have a First Aid kit
  • Keep a useful list of telephone numbers (GPs, the local authority, utility companies etc)
  • Familiarise yourself with the procedures for switching off gas, electricity and water

Being prepared in the car:

It is possible that you could be stuck in your car if a major incident occurs.  It is worth keeping the following items in your car to keep any inconvenience to a minimum:-

  • Bottled water
  • First Aid kit
  • Torch and spare batteries
  • In-car mobile phone charger
  • Blankets and spare warm clothing

Storms, severe weather and flooding:

  • Secure outdoor items and bring as much as possible indoors, including pets
  • Close windows, clear window sills and draw curtains to protect from flying glass
  • Stay indoors and away from windows
  • Keep some empty sandbags and sand ready for use

If you are flooded:

  • If you can, move upstairs
  • Move any valuables upstairs and what furniture you can
  • If it is possible, put the furniture left on the ground floor up on blocks

Toxic, chemical or radiation release

  • Go indoors and stay there
  • Close all outside doors, windows and air vents
  • Turn off any fans, air conditioning etc
  • Listen to local radio for more information and advice
  • Don't go outside unless you are told it is safe to do so

What you need to know

These basic steps, together with further advice, to help you and your family prepare to face a range of emergencies - anytime, anywhere - are included in a Government-produced booklet - 'Preparing for Emergencies - What You Need to Know' - (pdf file) that was distributed to all households in the UK. It has information and guidance on what to do to prepare for a variety of emergencies that could face the UK, what to do if an incident does occur, and information on what the government is doing to protect the country as a whole.

 

Further Advice

There is also a Government website - Preparing for Emergencies - that contains a wide range of information on how you can help yourself and others in times of emergency.

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