Advice for the public 

Understanding how an emergency might affect you and your family will help you to prepare. You should ask yourself the following questions:

• Is your home at risk from local hazards?
• Do you live near to a river, a train station or an industrial estate?
• Can you see power lines or a water reservoir from your window?

All of these are a potential risk to your family and where possible you should take measures to prepare for an emergency.

Risks
See our What if ... section for more information on risks.

What equipment would you need if your neighbourhood was evacuated, or the power and water failed?

Necessary kit
Having a supply of essential items at home can keep you safe during an emergency. Check out our list of necessary kit.

Have you got alternative methods to get to work?
If you use London Underground, would you know what bus to catch if your tube line is closed?

Find out using the Journey Planner on the Transport for London website. Tube travel news

If you travel to work by car, you can reduce the chances of disruption by checking the status of local roads. Using the BBC travel news web for North London. Traffic information

Can you stay in touch with your family?
Read our guidance on how to link up with your family during an emergency to ensure you can all stay in touch.

Are your home and contents insured?
Losing your home or your possessions as a result of disaster can be a very distressing experience. Insurance cover can reduce the pain somewhat by helping you to pay for property repairs and the replacement of lost items. Make sure your property is covered.

Do you know how to turn off the gas, water and electricity to your home?
If you are asked to evacuate your property, or if there is structural damage to your home, you may be asked to turn off the utilities. Know where to find the electricity mains, the main gas valve and the water supply.

Does your family know what to do in an emergency?
Discuss how an emergency might affect the family and tell them about any family emergency plan.

Think ahead
It is important you consider these issues before an emergency occurs. It may be difficult to organise your family once an emergency starts. Make some simple preparations while you can.

During an emergency, making contact with your family will be a top priority. Circumstances could make this difficult however as the mobile phone network may be inundated with calls at this time. Preparing beforehand can help you to stay in contact with your family during an emergency.

Choose two meeting points
Choose meeting points where you can link up with your family during an emergency. If you are separated from your family and cannot access your home, having alternative meeting points will help to reunite the family. Select two locations.

One location should be relatively close to your home so it can be accessed easily in a small emergency. If an emergency affects a much wider area, you will need to have an alternative meeting point further away from home. In both cases, family members can meet there if you cannot make contact by phone.

Choose an emergency contact
Choose a friend or relative living outside London who you can all phone to tell them you are ok. Keep their number in your mobile under ICE (In Case of Emergency). This person can then pass on messages between you and other family members.

Tune in
Make sure you can tune into the local radio station to receive updated information on any emergency. Local radio will also provide advice on the closure of schools and whether it is safe and necessary to collect your children. BBC London 94.9 FM

You may not be able to access your home in an emergency. Make sure you prepare for this by speaking with friends and family and arranging for somewhere else to stay in advance.

What we can do
Barking and Dagenham Council encourages residents to make their own emergency accommodation arrangements but if you cannot find an alternative place to stay the Council will offer assistance.

Emergency Rest Centres (ERC)
An ERC is a place of safety where welfare services can be provided to those who have been displaced by an emergency.

Services and facilities
The facilities are very basic and may be quite crowded but they can provide access to facilities and services, including:

• Accommodation
• Food
• First aid
• Security
• Information and advice
• Transport assistance
• Social work
• Entertainment
• Befriending services

Locations
Depending on the area affected by an emergency, the Council can open emergency rest centres at a number of locations around the borough. The emergency services will be able to tell you where to find the nearest one to you.

An emergency could happen at any time and have a variety of consequences. One way to be better prepared is to have a ready made emergency grab bag in your home that is stored in an accessible area.

Emergency grab bag;

• Torch (with batteries)
• Radio marked with frequencies for local stations (with batteries)
• First aid kit
• Bottled water / canned drinks
• Mobile phone (with charger)
• Money and bank cards
• Basic toiletries
• Essential medicine
• Emergency phone numbers
• Identification documents
• Home and car keys
• Insurance documents

Evacuation checklist;

• Listen to the advice of the emergency services
• Collect your emergency grab bag and make sure you have the contents on the checklist
• Check you have your keys, wallet and phone
• Grab some warm clothing to change into
• Make sure you secure your home properly
• Follow the directions from the emergency services

Essential supplies;

• Keep a supply of tinned food and bottled water at home in case you need to stay indoors.