Being Prepared for Emergencies

Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence

Personal Plans

The most important people to think about in any emergency situation are the people in your immediate family and household. When making your plans and preparations, there are certain things that you will need to bear in mind:

You may be separated from each other.
You may not be able to communicate.
Power supplies may be cut.
You or other members of your family may be injured, possibly seriously.
You may find yourselves in a dangerous situation involving fire, flooding or other elements.

To be prepared, you should ensure that you have spoken to your family and with your immediate neighbours about what you might do. Include some or all of the following suggestions in your plans to stay safe:

Decide how best to stay in touch with family members in an emergency situation.
If not at home, agree how you will contact each other, who will pick up the children from school, and who will check on elderly or disabled family members or neighbours.
In case you are separated, decide on a member of your family (who may live in another location) who you will all contact to let everyone know you are safe.
Make sure everybody knows this person’s address, home, mobile and work numbers. Give these details to your own workplace and to your children’s school.
Agree on a place that you will all meet if separated.

Storing Key Documents

Store important documents safely.

In most emergency situations, your immediate concern will be your safety. In the event of an evacuation, all household items and belongings should be left behind. However, in emergencies where there is no immediate danger, you may have time to look for important documents before leaving your home, so it’s important to ensure that they are all kept in the same place.

It’s a good idea to keep the following in a waterproof container or small portable safe in a safe place where it can easily be retrieved:

Wills
Passports
Photos
Birth and marriage certificates

Who and What to Listen to

Radio and TV Warnings

In major emergency situations, it may be necessary to issue warnings via the national media, advising you on the best course of action. Such messages would normally be broadcast on all national radio and TV channels.

Remember you may not have power, so it’s important to keep a battery-operated radio and tune in.

It is anticipated that your local radio station will also carry key messages.

Learn about safety in your home.

Find out how and where to turn off electricity, gas and water supplies in your home.
Make sure you know the numbers of your local police station, doctor, gas and electric suppliers, and any other local services that may be useful. Keep the numbers near your phone.
Dial your national emergency number for immediate connection to fire and ambulance services, or if you require emergency police assistance.

Learn some basic first aid.

Knowing the basics of first aid can be very useful in any emergency and can prevent further injury or distress. Basic courses are regularly run by your nearest Red Cross; otherwise look online for other possibilities, such as perhaps local hospitals and universities.

Prepare an emergency kit and keep it handy.

The following items may prove invaluable in helping you stay safe and cope with a range of emergency situations:

Battery-operated radio (with spare batteries)
Torch (with spare batteries), candles and waterproof matches
First aid kit and manual
Medication, toiletry and sanitary supplies
Special needs for infants, the elderly and family members with disabilities
Spare clothes and sleeping bags for each family member
Mobile phone, charger and spare battery
Strong plastic bags (for clothing, valuables, documents and photographs)
Copies of important family documents (birth certificates, passports and licences)
Contact details for your agreed family contact
Playing cards or games for young children

What to Do if You Have to Remain in Your Home for a Period of Days

You should try to make sure the following will be available in the event of an emergency where power, gas and water supplies have been cut:

Make arrangements to have essential supplies (food and water) stored somewhere in your home, to last for up to three days.
Make sure you have duct tape and a sheet of plastic to seal windows, scissors and a Swiss army knife.
Have a working fire extinguisher.

Office of Emergency Planning, Department of Defence. (Revised 2021, 8 June). Being prepared for emergencies [Global Edit]. Retrieved 18 February 2022 from https://www.gov.ie