Dealing with emergencies

What to do in the event of a major emergency

All emergencies are different in terms of dangers to members of the public and the response required. However, there are some practical measures that you can adopt to assist the emergency services and help you cope with the situation.

If you witness a major emergency, dial 999

Tune into your local radio station

If you are at home, it may in some circumstances (depending upon the nature of the emergency) be safer for you to remain, closing all the doors and windows, rather than go outside. Tune in to your local radio station for advice on what to do and for updates on the progress of the response to the emergency.

If you need to be evacuated the Police will come to your door to advise you of this.

BBC Radio Kent (96.7FM, 104.2FM, 97.6FM and DAB Digital Radio)
Up-to-date situation reports will be broadcast on your local stations, including emergency contact numbers

Keep a list of useful telephone numbers

The list should not only include numbers to the emergency response agencies (emergency services, the environment agency, etc) but more local contacts (GPs, relatives, schools/nurseries)
Have a plan for who to call in an emergency and prepare a contact list in advance for utility companies, relatives, neighbours, etc.

Keep a set of emergency provisions

These may be useful if you have to remain in your home without electricity or gas supplies. They should include canned or pre-packaged food (preferably not requiring preparation or cooking), bottled water and cans of juice, basic cutlery and a non-electric tin opener, medication and prescriptions, warm and dry clothing, blankets, a torch and batteries, a battery or wind-up radio, a mobile phone and your list of contact numbers.

Be prepared for possible evacuation

In some circumstances (e.g. the discovery of an unexploded bomb, or a fire involving an acetylene cylinder) it may be necessary for people to be evacuated temporarily from their homes, schools or places of work. In such an event a ‘Rest Centre’ will be set up by the Council to provide temporary cover and assistance for those who may need it.

Know how to switch off your utilities

Make sure you know how to switch off the gas, electricity and water supplies to your house or premises in case you have to do so before evacuation (and remember that you need to contact your gas supplier before switching back on)

Check that other people are safe

If it is safe to do so, check not only on relatives, family and friends but the elderly and disabled residents in your neighbourhood

Find out if your property is at risk of flooding

The Council has a key role, together with the Police and the Environment Agency, in providing support to help anyone affected by serious flooding in Maidstone. The principal form of flooding which could pose a threat to a limited number of communities in the district is from storm tide surges (when a severe storm with low atmospheric pressure coincides with a period of high tides). The Council has a plan in place to cover its response to such circumstances.

An emergency response to flooding can involve lots of different council services – for example providing emergency accommodation, sandbags and environmental health advice, as well as helping in the clean up operation.

To find out more you can contact the Environment Agency’s floodline on 0845 988 1188. or by visiting their website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/. You can download various flood advice leaflets prepared by the Agency from its website, which provide practical advice on some steps which you can take to help minimise the effects of flooding in your home.

Subscribe to receive flood warnings

If you live in an area at high risk of flooding, the Environment Agency can inform you of any flood warnings they issue. Contact the the Environment Agency’s floodline on 0845 988 1188 for advice on how to arrange this.

Check your insurance

Contact your insurance company to check your household policy covers flooding. The Association of British Insurers can provide advice on flooding insurance and insurance policies. Follow the weblink from this page to visit their website.

Further advice and information

Follow the weblink from this page to the Environment Agency website. The Agency provides lots of helpful information on protecting your home against the effects of flooding, as well as up to date information on any flood warnings they have issued.
If you are flooded self help advice on what to do can be obtained from the British Damage Management Association.