Develop an emergency plan with your household members to prepare
yourselves for what to do, how to find each other, and how to
communicate in an incident.
What to start thinking about
- Decide where your household will reunite after an
emergency. Identify at least two places to meet: one within a
short walking distance of your home and another outside of the City
in a neighbouring borough. Places such as a library,
community centre or place of worship are good rendezvous
points.
- Know and regularly practice all possible exit routes from your
home and neighbourhood.
- Designate a contact, friend or relative outside of London that
household members can call if separated during an incident.
If London phone circuits are busy, long-distance calls may be
easier to make. This out of London contact can help you
communicate with others.
- Take into account everyone’s needs, especially the elderly,
people with disabilities, and non-English speakers.
- Where and how to turn off water, gas and electricity supplies
in your home
- If elderly or vulnerable neighbours might need your help
- Familiarise yourself with emergency plans for your work-place,
school, child’s school or nursery and other relevant
institutions.
- How to tune in to your local radio station
- Pet owners should include provisions for their pet in a
household emergency plan. Contact friends or relatives
outside your area to see if they would be willing to accommodate
you and your pets in an emergency. Also ask a neighbour,
friend or family member if they will look after your pet if you
cannot return home due to an emergency.
- Contact your vet, groomer, cattery, kennels to see if they
provide shelter for animals during an emergency
- Transport your pets in a carrier for the duration of the
emergency. This makes pets feel safer and more secure.
- Know your pets’ hiding places so that you can easily find them
in times of stress
- Make sure each pet has an ID chip, ID tag etc.
- Assemble a “Pet Survival Kit” that can be ready to go if you
are evacuating your pet to a kennel or to friends or family.
You should include:
- Water, food and containers
- A leash / muzzle / harness
- A copy of all current vaccination, health records, license
numbers and microchips numbers
- Medication for your pet (if needed)
- A pet carrier or a cage
- Plastic bags for pick-up
- Photo of your pet
Now to document it
- Keep useful emergency contacts, Estate office’s details and
personal / medical information on your persons, eg on a card in
your wallet.
- Make a note of all exit routes from your home and
neighbourhood
- Document your two rendezvous points. A foldaway map may
come in handy.
- Details of how and where to turn off water, gas and electricity
supplies in your home
- Details of how to tune in to your local radio station
- Note any pet arrangements in the plan
Now to distribute it
- Ensure all household members have a copy of your household
emergency plan, contact details, and maps as necessary, on their
persons at all times.