Advice at home

In our busy and varied lives emergencies are inevitable, unavoidable and in some circumstances may be tragic occurrences. They manifest as natural disasters and man-made incidents which could be associated with commercial and industrial activity. They will often be managed by the emergency services in the first instance, but on occasions the emergency may be either too large in scale or too complex for the emergency services to deal with unassisted.

During these times, a major incident may be declared and assistance sought from a wide range of professional partners. The Council is one of the agencies that would respond to this type of emergency and would support the emergency services and the community to deal with the effects of a major incident.

Some emergencies will require you to stay in your home or others might mean you need to evacuate. Some simple steps will mean you can be more prepared should an emergency occur and you are at home.

Know how to respond

In an emergency, unless directed otherwise, your initial response should be to go inside, stay in and tune in to your local radio station and listen for further instructions and updates.

Stay where you are

Go in:

• wait inside until the all clear is given by the emergency services.

Stay in:

• close and stay away from all windows and doors
• remain calm and wait for further advice
• we know that you'll want to collect your children from school, but it might not be safe to do so for you or them. Remember all schools have emergency plans and teachers will look after pupils in their care.

Tune in:

• to your local radio station for further information and instructions including updates on school
• if you have access to the internet check key websites for up to date information
• listen to TV news updates regarding the emergency.

Visit the GOV.UK website for guidance on preparing for an emergency

Last updated: 29/03/2021 12:34