Prepare now

To prepare for an emergency, you should take time to find out:

where and how to turn off water, gas and electricity supplies in your home
the emergency procedures for your children at school
the emergency procedures at your workplace
how your family will stay in contact in the event of an emergency
if any elderly or vulnerable neighbours might need your help
how to tune in to your local radio station

You might want to make up a list of this information and keep it in a safe place at home, where it can be easily found, in an emergency.

As an individual, family or household you should also make a Household Emergency Life-saving Plan (PDF - 700KB). Keep this safe in case you need to use it.

Emergency plans for schools

If your children are at school you'll naturally want to collect them as soon as possible in the event of a major emergency. But it may not be safe to do so. Tune in to your local radio station for advice and for details of the arrangements we have made for letting parents know when to collect their children from school.

All schools have plans to cope with local emergencies such as fire and flood, and teachers and support staff do all they can to look after the pupils in their charge.

You can find out more about school emergency planning from www.teachernet.gov.uk/emergencies

Emergency plans for businesses

Employers have a responsibility for the safety and security of their staff. All businesses should have arrangements in place to deal with the impact of a major incident or disaster. Make sure you understand what you need to do in an emergency at work.

If you are a business, you can get more information on emergency planning from www.mi5.gov.uk