Take time to consider the risks in your area – what would cause disruption to your daily routine? If one of the emergency services advised you to leave your property or stay safe indoors, would you have all you need to look after yourself and your family?

Top tips!

Make a plan for yourself and with everyone in your household – how would you deal with disruptions? Here are some things to think about:

• What do you need if you can’t leave the house or if you have to leave in a hurry? Here’s an idea of what you might want to keep in a home emergency kit.
• Is anyone reliant on having medication with them and is it accessible?
• Do you have pets or livestock that would be affected? If so, see our Animals Prepared advice.
• What steps could you take to better protect your property? Does everyone know how to do this?
• How would you keep in touch with family members who are not at home? Could you manage without mobile phones?
• Where would you meet if your home, street or town was inaccessible?

Once you have made a plan, check back regularly to make sure it’s still suitable.

Once you have a plan, think about what you need to make it work. Discuss this with everyone in your household and make sure they know what to do.

Top tips!

• Put together a home grab bag of important items, and store it somewhere it’s easy to get at – everyone could have one, even the cat!
• Make a plan to protect your property, this may involve putting property flood resilience measures in place or securing garden furniture before a storm
• Make a communications plan – don’t rely on mobile phones and consider where you would meet if your family gets separated

Once you have done this, test your plans to make sure they’re achievable – you should then be ready to respond in the event of an incident.

Remember, always stay safe: In an immediate emergency or where there is a risk to life, follow the advice of the emergency services or call 999.

Put your plans into action, but remember you are not on your own – tell the responsible agencies if you are affected by an incident – they are all there to support you.

Incidents and emergencies are disruptive and distressing to those affected, with the recovery process being equally about practical tasks and emotional wellbeing.

Top tips!

• Check with your local authorities to see what support is available to you locally
• Consider getting involved with a local community group and supporting others in your community
• Learn lessons from the impacts of the incident

The local authorities have provisions in place to support you and your communities through the challenges of recovering from emergencies, much of which will be made available in the event of an incident. If you’ve been affected by an incident and want to find out more about services available, see Somerset Council Health & Wellbeing.