Citizen education
Preparing your household for an emergency
A plan agreed in advance is worth more than any equipment bought afterwards.
Emergency preparedness is mostly planning rather than equipment. A plan your household has actually agreed is worth more than anything bought after the fact.
Agree a plan
- Decide where the household meets if you are separated and cannot return home.
- Agree who collects children, and name a second person in case the first cannot.
- Choose one out-of-area contact everyone can check in with. Local networks fail first.
Documents
Keep identification, property documents and medical records together in one accessible place, with copies held separately — a sealed envelope with a relative, or secure digital copies you can reach from any device.
A basic kit
Water, non-perishable food, a torch, spare batteries, a charged power bank, a first-aid kit, any regular medication, and cash in small denominations. Check it twice a year and replace what has expired.
Know your numbers
Keep the emergency numbers for your area written down as well as stored in a phone. A phone that is lost, broken or out of charge takes its contact list with it.