Make a plan
When an emergency occurs, responding organisations may not be able to help everyone, as they have to focus on helping the most vulnerable. You can help by planning to look after yourself and your loved ones. Making a household emergency plan can help you think about what to do if you are involved in an emergency.
You may want to include information on:
- emergency contact details for your family or friends
- key contact numbers for insurance and utility companies
- the emergency arrangements for your children at school and at your workplace
- where and how to turn off electricity, water and gas supplies at your home
- frequencies for local radio news stations, so you can keep updated on the latest information and advice
- how you would meet up if an emergency happens when you are at work or school
- where you would go if you had to evacuate your home
- how you would look after your pets
- the contents of your emergency grab bag and where it is located
- any friends or neighbours who may need your help, particularly if they are elderly or vulnerable
- information on particular risks – for example, if you are at risk of flooding, what actions you would take to protect your home.
You should discuss the plan with other members of your family or household as you may not all be together if an emergency occurs. Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency grab bag in case you need to leave in a hurry.
Pets
If you have a pet it’s particularly important to plan for how you will look after them in an emergency, especially if you have to evacuate your home. Consider:
- How could you evacuate your pet if you had to leave your home suddenly?
- Where could you take them – do you have family or friends who might be willing to look after them?
- Could you develop a buddy system with a neighbour or friend who lives nearby who could help care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so?
- Keeping an emergency stock of pet food and any medication your pet is on in your emergency grab bag.
In a major emergency, emergency response organisations will not have the resources to help evacuate or look after your pets. If you have to go to an emergency rest centre or other temporary accommodation, you will not be able to take your pets, so it’s really important you plan for how to look after them.
