Be prepared for spring - family emergency plan

House fires... flooding... severe weather... car break-downs... burst pipes... stolen wallets... accidents...

Emergencies can happen at any time, would you and your family know what to do? Follow the checklist and be prepared

Prepare

Do you live in an area where it might flood? If yes, sign up for the Environment Agency Flood Warnings and invest in flood protection for your doors and airbricks.
Can you survive in your house for 3 days without power or water? Keep a supply of bottled water and tinned food in the house.
Have you worked out alternative methods to get to work?
Does your family know what to do in an emergency? Talk it over with them. For example, keep a spare set of house keys with a neighbour in case someone gets locked out. If you lock your front door with a key at night, make sure everyone knows where it is in case you have to evacuate in a hurry.
Insure your home and its contents.
Do you know how to turn off the gas, water and electricity to your house?
Can you stay in touch with your family?

Choose 2 meeting points you can go to if you get separated from your family and cannot get home. One should be close to home and the other away from home in a place you can get to easily.
Choose a relative or friend who you can phone to say you are safe. Keep their number in your phone contacts list under ICE (In Case of Emergency). You can leave a message with them to pass on to family members.
Make sure you can tune to a local radio station, as this will be where emergency information will be broadcast.

Think ahead about where you could stay if you could not go home or were evacuated
If you have to leave lock up
Remember pets and make arrangements for them

Spend a few minutes to put together a grab bag in case you need to leave home in a rush:

Portsmouth City Council
Guildhall Square
Portsmouth
Hampshire, PO1 2BG
023 9282 2251
general@portsmouthcc.gov.uk