Advice and benefits

Are you prepared to cope with an emergency situation?

• Where will you be?
• Where will your family and friends be?
• Will your family and house be safe?
• How will you find out where your friends and family are?

Disaster usually strikes without warning and in different ways. 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 and indeed from your whole neighbourhood. It could mean your family would find it difficult to stay in contact.

You can cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working with families, friends and neighbours. Following the steps detailed here will help you produce your own emergency plan. Just a few preparations now can ensure your best protection in disaster situations.

When a major incident occurs, the radio and TV generally provides the fastest means of circulating information and advice to the public.

The government, emergency services and local authorities will at the earliest opportunity make available to the media information for the public on how best to react to the situation. In extremely localised incidents the emergency services may use loud hailers and/or knock on doors to pass on information.

You should therefore plan to watch and listen to radio and TV, and where appropriate await personal contact, for instructions on the action you should be taking.

Find out about emergency plans in your work place and other premises close to your home. See if they may have implications for you or your family. Find out about emergency plans in your children's schools and confirm how you will be reunited with your children at school.

Specific emergency plans may have been prepared for gasholders, chemical plants or areas subject to flooding. Find out what they are and how they might affect you. Establish what action you should take when warnings are given.

If you live in an area with a history of flooding, prepare to defend your property now, before any threat occurs. Make sure you are ready with temporary flood barriers. Before any water arrives you will need to store sandbags, frames and boards for shutter barriers and covers for air bricks or other vents. Co-operate with neighbours to install joint defences where appropriate.You can find contact details for your council emergency planning officer and companies who supply flood defence products.

Contact Details

Contact name

Anna Bastow

Job title

Emergency Planning Officer

Telephone

020 8760 5678

Fax

020 8760 5619

Email

anna.bastow@croydon.gov.uk