If an incident occurs, you may need to stay inside or possibly leave your home. Do you know what you'd need?
There are several things you can do to make sure you’re prepared at home.
Make an Emergency Kit
You'll have the information and equipment you need to hand, whatever the situation. This kit is useful whether you're asked to leave or stay in your home. This could include:
- regularly prescribed/essential medication
- Household Emergency Plan (see below)
- spare home and car keys
- toiletries and sanitary supplies
- a battery radio with spare batteries
- a torch with spare batteries, candles and matches
- a first aid kit
- a spare mobile phone
- cash and credit cards
- spare clothes and blankets
- bottled water, ready-to-eat food (e.g. tinned food) and a bottle/tin opener. This is in case you have to remain in your home for several days
In your Household Emergency Plan it is useful to think about things like:
- how your family will stay in contact in the event of an incident
- important numbers and addresses
- how to tune in to your local radio station
- an emergency kit checklist
Register for Priority Services schemes
You can register for a priority service scheme with your utility company if you have particular needs because of your:
- age
- ill health
- disability
- mental illness
- have children under the age of 5
You can register with:
If you have elderly relatives or neighbours who might need help during a power or water outage, make sure to check on them.
Heating your home
The Met Office have advice on how to keep your home warm.
Head to Home Energy Scotland for information and support on how you can insulate and/or improve the efficiency of your home heating system.
Sign up for flood alerts
If you live in an area that's likely to flood, you may want to consider installing flood protection on your property. The Scottish Flood Forum provide advice and support for communities at risk of flooding.
Register to SEPA’s Floodline direct warning service to find out if you can receive Flood Alerts and/or Flood Warnings for your property. You will be given the quick dial number for the Flood Alert and/or Flood Warning area that relates to your registered property.
It's also useful to find out and be aware of:
- how to turn off water, gas and electricity supplies in your home
- the emergency procedures for your children at school
- the emergency procedures at your workplace
- elderly or vulnerable neighbours that might need your help
What to do in an incident
If you are a Council tenant, please refer to your tenant handbook for advice. You can report repairs online, please visit our Housing Repairs page.
Call 105. This number will connect you to the network operator for power in your region.
See the SP Energy Network page ‘What to do in a power cut’ for more advice on how to prepare for and what to do during a power cut
If you are a Council tenant, please refer to your tenant handbook for advice. You can report repairs online, please visit our Housing Repairs page.
Use the Scottish Water location search tool to check for supply issues in your area.
You can contact Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778.
Scottish Water can provide advice on interrupted water supplies. It's always a good idea to make sure you have an emergency water supply already. Think about filling some large plastic bottles with water in preparation.
If you are a Council tenant, please refer to your tenant handbook for advice. You can report repairs online, please visit our Housing Repairs page.
If you can smell gas, please call the national gas emergency number on 0800 111 999.
For all other enquiries, please call Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) on 0800 912 1700.
If an incident occurs and you need to leave your home
In certain situations, you may be asked to leave your home by the emergency services. This is unlikely but it's something you need to be prepared for. If this happens, leave as quickly and calmly as possible. If you have time, try to:
- grab your emergency kit and household emergency plan
- make your home safe
- turn off electricity, gas and water supplies
- unplug appliances
- lock all doors and windows
- where possible, tune in to local radio for emergency advice and instructions
Please refer to the ‘What to do in an incident’ section above for more advice on what to do during an incident.
When you reach your temporary location
- Follow the ‘Go In, Stay In, Tune In’ guidance.
- If possible, you may want to let family and friends know where you are and reassure them of your safety
- If you're in an emergency centre, don’t panic. Volunteers are on hand to help you. You’ll get plenty of information about your situation and next steps.
Returning home after an incident
You'll be told by responders when it's safe to return home. When you get home, open your windows to let in fresh air. You can then begin reconnecting gas, electricity and water supplies.
Be prepared for any future incident
For advice on what you can do to prepare you and your family for an emergency/incident, please read our Ready at Home page. The Scottish Government's 'Ready Scotland' website also provides useful advice on this.
Please remember there are procedures in place for (most) emergencies, so the key is not to panic or overreact.