Be prepared

What you can do

Understand the risks

Weather-related events put us at risk:

Blizzards
Storms and gales
Flooding
Wildfires

Other events could impact on a particular town or the area more widely too:

Industrial incident
Transport accident
Acts of sabotage
Terrorism

Understanding the risks we face will help you to better prepare should the worst happen.

Details of local risks and some of the steps you can take to be prepared can be found in the East of Scotland Community Risk Register.

Consider the impacts

In an emergency or incident in just a short time your everyday life can become challenging:

Household heating stops working
It becomes difficult to prepare and store food
Shops may run out of food and other goods, and in some circumstances they may not be able to open at all
There is no water coming from the taps or the toilet
It is not possible to fill your car with fuel
Payment cards and cash machines are not working, with cash payments only accepted
Mobile phone networks and the internet stop working
Public transport and other means of transport are at a standstill
It becomes difficult to get medicines and medical equipment

Making a plan

Having a basic emergency plan in place will:

help keep you safe
let you connect with your loved ones more quickly
protect some of your most important things in your home

Use the home emergency plan template available on the Ready Scotland website or create one yourself.

By involving everyone in the household with the planning you will be more prepared and confident to handle a crisis if it occurs.

Work out what supplies you need

Ideally, you should be self-sufficient for three days (72 hours).

However, don’t forget neighbours can help each other out by sharing resources, such as gas for camping stoves, food supplies etc.

A checklist of suggested supplies can be found in the Ready Scotland guide, however, you may want to think about the following.

Water

During emergencies all water supplies, but especially private water supplies, can become contaminated or disrupted:

It's wise to store enough water for at least three days - the NHS recommends two litres per person per day for drinking and hygiene purposes
Even if you don’t have much space, the more water you can store the better
Fill a water container ahead of time if there's advance warning of an issue
Having an outdoor water butt will provide water which can be used for flushing toilets

See Scottish Water's website for useful advice on conserving water and winter.

Food

You should have enough food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods, to last the entire household for three days.

Buy a little extra when you can, as spreading your purchases over a longer term will reduce the financial impact. Use any stored food or water before its expiry date and replace as required.

According to the Food Standards Agency, during a power cut:

a refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed
a full freezer will keep temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full)
after these times food may be unsafe to eat, so make sure you have alternative food for your family

It is recommended you use chilled food first, then frozen, then cupboard food to maximise your supplies and reduce waste.

Food preparation

It is important to prepare and cook food safely during an emergency, to prevent you and your family from becoming ill:

Take care when using portable cooking equipment or BBQs that meat is cooked thoroughly
Make sure any food preparation surfaces that have been impacted by flood water are thoroughly cleaned before use
Please remember camping stoves, portable BBQs, lit charcoal and generators are designed for outdoor use only and should not be used indoors or in an enclosed space due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

See the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's At Home online guide for more information on staying safe during a power cut.

Medicine

Most households will keep basic over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen. It is useful to have a ready supply of suitable painkillers for your family and know where these are kept.

If you need other medication or medical aid, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacy about the possibility of having a reserve, but remember to check the shelf life of the medication and use before the expiry date and replace.

You should keep a copy of any ongoing prescriptions, as medical records may be difficult to access in an emergency.

It is also useful for every household to have a basic first aid kit, including everyday items such as plasters and antiseptic cream.

NHS Borders has information online on accessing healthcare and being prepared.

Additional advice:

Lighting

Torches and spare batteries are the easiest solution for lighting during a power cut. A head torch can be useful to allow you to keep your hands free. Battery powered camping lanterns can provide light for a room.

Take care if using candles indoors to ensure this is done safely and make sure they are out before going to sleep.

Keep warm

Items you may already have such as blankets, duvets, warm clothing and sleeping bags can help keep you warm.

If there is no heating and the weather is cold, gather everyone together in one room and if you can, hang blankets over the windows and cover the floor with rugs.

Prepare an emergency grab bag

Your household should prepare and maintain an emergency grab bag in case you are ever instructed to evacuate, or if you feel that it is no longer safe to remain at home.

Items could include:

copies of birth and marriage certificates
copies of drivers’ licences and passports
copies of insurance policies (home/contents/life)
family photos
bottled water and food
essential medication and copies of any prescriptions