Get Ready

Emergencies

If life or property is at risk - call 111 (fire, police, ambulance)

Be prepared

Make a plan for home, work and school.

At home

Could you survive at home for three days or more? Here's some things you'll need if you have to stay in your own home following a disaster. Keep in mind that you may not have power or water or any way of getting supplies outside your home.

• Water
• Food (non-perishable)
• Medication
• Torches and batteries
• Food for pets
• Radio (battery-operated or wind-up)
• First aid kit
• Cooking equipment eg barbeque and gas bottle
• Clothing

At work

If you're at work and need to get home, how will you get there? Roads may be closed and streets blocked. Here's some tips:

• If you can't get home, have a second meeting place arranged
• Have a getaway bag with essential items at work or in your car
• Travel together, if possible

At school

If your children are at school, do they know how to get home safely? Do they need to go to the second meeting place? Or do they need to stay at school and you'll pick them up? Make sure your children know what they should do.

Evacuate or stay at home?

If possible stay at home. Stay connected with emergency services and official information by listening to a radio (have batteries on hand). If you have power and internet services stay in touch at this website or Council's Facebook page ('Like' it now to make sure you get all relevant messages).

Leave home only if you're in immediate danger or if you are officially told to. Stay inside if there is a chemical or gas disaster or a storm.

In the event you need to evacuate, do these things (if it is safe to do so):

• Turn off power, water and gas
• Take your emergency/survival kits/getaway bags
• Take your pets

Before disaster strikes

It's important your assets - home, contents, vehicles etc - are adequately insured.

If you're a business owner it is also a good idea to have a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) ready. This will ensure you don't lose important information like customer details.

A BCP should include clear steps to take to carry on trading during and after an emergency. This is important for farmers as much as any other business owner.