Householders and businesses are encouraged to take steps to reduce the impact of an emergency situation on themselves or their business.
In the case of householders, this could be as simple as ensuring that important documents are kept in a secure place where they can't easily be damaged or lost when an emergency occurs. This might mean that documents such as property deeds, insurance certificates, passports, birth / marriage certificates and driving licences are kept in a fire-proof box on the first floor to protect against fire and flooding.
Where a house is located close to a river or the coast, householders may wish to seek advice from the
Environment Agency about how they can protect their property from flooding. This might include buying 'flood-gates' to protect doorways and suitable seals to protect air bricks and waste pipes.
Those most at risk or those that might take longer to evacuate, for example the elderly, infirm or persons with disabilities, may wish to register with the Environment Agency for automated flood warnings.
Businesses are encouraged to make plans to protect their premises, in the same way as described above for householders, however they are also encouraged to make Business Continuity Plans to ensure that the business itself can survive an emergency situation and continue to operate. More information on Business Continuity Management can be found on the Business Continuity Page of this website and at many of the websites listed under Useful links on the Emergency Planning page.
The
Community Risk Register provides information regarding the level of risk of certain emergency scenario's occurring. These include such as flooding, severe weather, transport disruption and industrial accidents, which might affect a localised or a more widespread area.
