Prepare your family for emergencies
Protect yourself, your family and home before an emergency takes place
You should take steps to make your household more resilient to an emergency. In an incident your home may lose power for hours or even days. Some emergencies might mean you need to leave your property at short notice and not return for some time.
- How to prepare
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- Make a grab bag with supplies. You may need them in an emergency or if you have to leave your home.
- Create a household emergency action plan, including how to get in touch with your family and where to meet if you cannot make contact.
- Sign up for Met Office alerts and Environment Agency flood alerts and warnings.
- Check your flood risk.
- Join the Priority Services Register if you are eligible. Join your gas or electricity supplier register and contact your water provider to join their register.
- Visit the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum (HIOW LRF) website for more information on preparedness and response.
- Insurance
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Get insurance for your home and contents. Make sure it covers everything you need. You may need further advice on flood insurance if you live in a flood risk area.
- Protect your home from flooding
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In a flood risk area, it's a good idea to prepare your property for flooding.
- Emergency pack
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An emergency pack contains items that may help you if you lose power or have to leave your home. Have the pack ready and accessible to help you save time and worry.
Your emergency pack could contain:
- battery-powered radio with local radio stations marked
- torch
- spare batteries
- first aid kit
- essential contacts, such as family members and doctor’s surgery
- bottled water or canned drinks
- evacuation checklist
- Evacuation checklist
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An evacuation checklist is a reminder of what you will need to take with you if you have to leave your home in a hurry.
Your evacuation checklist could contain:
- your emergency pack
- warm clothes and blankets
- essential medication and items such as glasses
- baby food and nappies
- wallet and bank cards
- mobile phone and charger
- home and car keys
- toiletries and sanitary supplies
- carrier and collar or lead for your pet(s)