Plan for an emergency

Having a household emergency plan, an emergency kit and business emergency planning.

Household emergency plan  

Emergencies can occur with little or no warning, so it's important to be prepared. Take a few minutes with your household to discuss: 

  • whether you have suitable insurance – see the Association of British Insurers on home insurance and the Association of British Insurers on flooding insurance
  • what extra support any vulnerable people in your household may need in an emergency
  • a different exit route out of your home if your usual exit is blocked
  • 2 locations (other than your home) where you can meet if you're separated – mobile networks may not work during an emergency if lots of people use their phones at the same time
  • who you could stay with if you had to evacuate your home
  • if you know how to turn off your water, gas or electricity during an emergency like a flood – contact your supplier to find out how, or see information on GOV.UK on how to turn off your utilities
  • plans for your pet, if you have one  

Emergency kit  

An emergency kit is a useful kit packed with essentials in case you have to evacuate. Keep it somewhere that is easily accessible and check the contents every 6 months.  

See the British Red Cross on what to include in your emergency kit.

Business emergency plan 

If you run a business, you need a plan detailing what happens in an emergency. This is called a business continuity plan. It will help you get up and running again as quickly as possible after an emergency. 

Find out more on emergency preparation for businesses on GOV.UK.