Emergency safety advice

Before an emergency arises

• Check the County Durham and Darlington Local Resilience Forum for useful information on emergencies in our area.
• Make an emergency plan to prepare you and your family for an emergency using our household emergency plan template. You don't need any specialist knowledge; it is all about you and your home. 
• Make a list of any medication you or your family take.
• Keep a list of emergency contact numbers and insurance numbers.
• Make sure that important documents and emergency supplies are kept out of the way of flood water such as on a high shelf. Suggestions include:
  • a fireproof box containing your important documents 
  • an external hard drive with a recent back-up of your computer

During an emergency

• In the event of a flood follow our flooding safety advice.
• If there is snow or ice, or in long periods of cold weather, follow our Stay warm, well and safe this winter advice.
• Use social media to keep up with emergency information - follow us on Twitter or follow:
  • BBC Breaking News on Twitter
  • Northern Echo on Twitter
  • Met Office on Twitter
  • Environment Agency on Twitter
  • Durham Police on Twitter
• Check your local radio station for news bulletins and weather forecasts.
  • BBC Radio Newcastle (95 - 96FM, 103.5-104.5FM)
  • BBC Radio Tees (95FM)
  • Metro (102-103FM, 97.1FM)
  • Capital North East (105-106FM)
  • Bishop FM (105.9FM)
  • Sun FM (103.4FM)
• Check for any disruptions, closures and warnings.
• Stay as far away from the emergency situation as you can e.g. in severe weather stay inside, in case of a fire leave the building and stand well away.
• Look after vulnerable friends and neighbours who are more likely to struggle. If you are worried about someone Contact Social Care Direct.
• If your community has a community emergency plan, contact the coordinator to find out what is happening and if there is anything you should know.

When the emergency is over

• Look out for information in the local news or from us.
• If you've had to leave home, do not return until you are told it's safe.

Top tip: grab bag

It is important to keep a bag full of important items that you might need if you are evacuated from your home in an emergency. Items may include:

• medication
• important documents
• toiletries
• mobile phone and charger
• cash and credit cards
• warm waterproof clothing
• bottled water and ready-to-eat food
• baby food and care items where necessary
• first aid kit
• wind up battery torch and radio

Top tip: important items to store in your home

It may be useful to keep a stock of some specific items in your home in case of a power cut or severe weather which may result in restricted access to services for a period of time. Items may include:

• wind up torches or torches with a stock of batteries
• other battery powered light sources such as lanterns
• tinned food
• ready to eat food which does not require heating up
• antibacterial wipes
• portable power bank
• extra/foil blankets
• hot water bottles
• bottled water
• electric fan or small air conditioning unit
• corded phone
• first aid kit
   

Priority Services Registers

Utility companies each have their own free, vulnerable persons register so it is a good idea to sign up to all of them to ensure you are on their priority service list in an incident if you feel it necessary. See Help and support with your energy supply .

Power cut - tips and advice

Check Northern Power Grid: Power cuts for the most up to date information and advice on power cuts.

Here are some top tips to get you started:

• have a battery powered or wind up radio tuned into a local radio station
• keep a torch handy - it's much safer than candles
• only use alternative forms of heat or lighting if they're safe
• make sure you have a charged mobile to hand with all important numbers stored
• make a hot water bottle and fill a vacuum flask with something warm
• make sure you wrap up warm with extra clothes and/or blankets
• ensure cupboards are stocked with food and drink
• kitchen appliances will be ok during a power cut
• home and fire alarms may be affected during a power cut
• fish and livestock may be vulnerable during a power cut
• leave a light on so you can tell when the power is back on