Notes Preparing for emergencies

What will you do if it happens to you...?

[email protected] 03000 264654 Please read and keep this information where 24552 you can find it. Extreme weather, fires, explosions and leaks. Disease outbreaks, power cuts and transport emergencies.

They can all happen and you will manage better if you are prepared and have your own C.L.E.A.R home emergency plan.

It does not require any special knowledge - you’re the expert because it’s about you and your home - and it won’t take you long to produce.

Talk to the people who live with you about what you will do if something happens.

What will you do if it happens to you...? Make your plan C.L.E.A.R Check List Emergency bag Act Recover

3 Always check the radio, television, social media or internet for weather Check warnings and news. Social media Use Twitter to follow news and announcements from the emergency services, the council, the Met Office and the Environment Agency.

Local radio and television These organisations are also likely to be on facebook and you could also look for other reliable facebook Listen to the news bulletins and weather forecasts on local groups in your area. They may be radio and television. Find out which radio stations best able to provide information cover your area and save them as presets on your radio. during and after an incident which will help you to begin (95.4fm, 96fm, 103.7fm BBC Radio Newcastle to recover. and 104.4fm) BBC Radio Tees (95fm) Metro (102.6fm, 103fm, 103.2fm, 97.1fm) Capital North East (105-106fm) Star FM (County Durham 102.8fm, Bishop Auckland 106.8fm, Darlington 103.2fm, Northallerton 103.5fm, Richmond 102.6fm) Radio Teesdale (102.1fm and 105.5fm) Bishop FM (105.9fm) Twitter

@MetOffice @EnvAgency YNE The web @DurhamCouncil @DurhamPolice Reliable information can be found online. @CDDFRS (County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service) Save these sources as bookmarks or favourites.

www.durham.gov.uk/weather www.durham.gov.uk/roadclosures Facebook www.durham.gov.uk/winterroads for local updates on the weather, /durhamcouncil road closures and winter driving in the county. /Durham Constabulary /County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service You may also be able to listen to local radio /MetOffice stations online by searching for their websites. /Environment Agency

4 5 Important information List Make a list of any medication you or people Emergency bag you care for take, important phone numbers and insurance policy numbers. Carry the list with you at all times on your phone or in your wallet or purse. An emergency bag helps if you have to leave home quickly or to stay indoors without power for a few days. The bag should be Keep important documents like birth certificates small enough to carry, check the bag regularly to make sure it has and passports above flood level in a fire proof box. everything you need and that items like torches have batteries that Keep computer information on an external storage work. device. You might want to take this with you so keep it in one place or in an emergency bag. Your bag could contain: • Copy of your household Useful numbers emergency plan if you have one Save useful numbers in your mobile or keep a list in your wallet • NHS numbers Don’t forget to take: or purse. (ask your doctor’s surgery) • Toiletries • Medication Emergency services - police, fire, ambulance 999 • First aid kit • Important documents and coastguard • Antibacterial hand gel • Essential keys Police – non-emergency enquiries 101 • Wind-up radio • Items such as glasses for Fire and rescue - non-emergency enquiries 0845 305 8383 • Wind-up torch children and other people Health - non-emergency enquiries 111 • Spare batteries you care for Gas emergencies 0800 111 999 that work • Mobile phone and charger Electricity emergencies 0800 66 88 77 • Notebook • Items for pets Water leaks - non-household 0800 328 7648 and pen • Cash/credit/debit cards Sewer leaks 0845 717 1100 Highways Agency - for the A1(M), A19 and A66 0300 123 5000 Also, think about what you will need if you have to stay indoors a Durham County Council Highways Action Line 0191 370 6000 few days. Consider putting the following items in a separate box: Durham County Council Social Care Direct 0845 8 50 50 10 - for concerns about someone’s welfare • Enough tinned or dried food and bottles of water to last three days. Remember to check ‘use by dates’ and regularly replace ICE water. The emergency services encourage people to put ICE or ‘in case • Candles and matches. of emergency’ numbers in their mobile phone, which can be used • Camping stove (only use indoors in an emergency. Place on a to contact someone for you if needed. stable surface and use in a well ventilated area with a carbon monoxide detector). Simply save ‘ ICE ’ and the name and number of your emergency contact in your phone address book. Remember - if there’s a fire or immediate danger in the house, don’t stop to grab anything. Just get out. 6 7 Act Recover If an emergency happens, act if you need to.

In an emergency dial 999. Safe places Do not put yourself or others at risk. Know the quickest and safest Follow the advice of the emergency routes out of your house and services. have a safe place to meet if you get separated. Safe places may be provided by the . . . . If the - Taking the C L E A R steps in this guide will help you to recover danger is outside emergency services. If you and get back to normal quicker. Go in, Stay in, Tune in make your own arrangements, such as staying with friends, • Stay there until you are told that After major incidents like flooding look out for information in the please tell somebody where the emergency is over or you are local media and from your council. you are. advised to leave. Return to your home when you are told that it is safe to do so. In the event of a flood • Listen to local radio or TV news Check to see if other people need your help or whether you can Move valuable items to safety. for updates. do things together to recover, such as clearing up or sharing If your house has property transport. protection measures (such as • Monitor websites and social media. flood gates or air brick covers) If you found this leaflet helpful, tell others and help them to make make sure you know how they . . . . If the (or you are a C L E A R plan. danger is inside work. Move pets to a safe told to evacuate) - Get out, Stay out place with plenty of food and Check information sources for weather warnings and news. water. Stay out of flood water If it is safe and you have the time: whether in the car or on foot - Make a List of important numbers and medication you don’t know what’s beneath • Take the items you need, including and carry this at all times. the surface. Check if other your emergency bag. people may need your help - Have an Emergency bag ready. information may not reach • Switch off power and lock doors some as quickly as you. and windows. Act when you need to. Stay safe when travelling • Go to a safe place. Recover . In the case of severe weather listen to the advice of the emergency services and only travel if you need to. 8 9 Our Household Emergency Plan Emergency contacts

Where will we meet if we can’t get into our home Emergency services 999 and can’t contact each other? Police - non-emergency enquiries 101 Anti-terrorism hotline 0800 789 321 Nearby place Outside the immediate area Crime stoppers 0800 555 111 Fire and rescue - non-emergency enquiries 0845 305 8383 Who will we contact to say we are safe and where we are? Health - non-emergency enquiries 111 Flu information line 0800 151 3513 Name Gas emergencies 0800 111 999 Address Electricity emergencies 0800 66 88 77 Phone Mobile Water leaks - non-household 0800 328 7648 Sewer leaks 0845 717 110 Who can we stay with if we are evacuated and can’t go home? Highways Agency - for the A1(M), A19 and A66 0300 123 5000

Name Durham County Council Highways Action Line 0191 370 6000 Address Social Care Direct - for concerns about someone’s welfare 0845 8 50 50 10 Durham County Council switchboard 03000 26 0000 Phone Mobile Work Work If we have time, where do we turn things off? School Water School Gas Doctor Electricity Vet House insurance Which friends and neighbours might need our help? Car insurance Name Nominated family contact Address Other Other Phone Mobile

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