Emergency Preparations you can do
- Prepare Yourself
- Evacuation
- Rest Centres
- Accessing Information
- Severe Weather
- Flooding
- Electricity Power Cuts
Prepare Yourself
Emergencies happen and they could happen at any time.
Find out how to protect yourself, your home, your family and your business. Make plans and get information at Ready Scotland.
This website provides information on actions you can take to protect yourself before an emergency occurs.
Evacuation
During or following an emergency for safety reasons it may become necessary for you to be evacuated from:
- your home
- place of work
- shopping centre
- bus or train
- or any other areas
If you are advised to evacuate, follow the instructions given; they are for your safety.
If the police ask you to leave your home or any other area, please co-operate; they will only ask you to leave if it is essential for your own safety.
- Listen to the evacuation instructions carefully.
- They will probably ask you to go to a 'place of safety' which is likely to be a Rest Centre set up by the council.
- If you have made alternative arrangements and don't go to or stay at the Rest Centre please let the police or council staff know. Your family and friends may be concerned about your whereabouts if you are missing and unaccounted for.
- If you have neighbours who require additional support, check that they are safe and inform the emergency services that they require assistance.
- If you need additional support, make sure the emergency services and or council are made aware of this so that arrangements can be made for you.
- If there is time, take any medication, warm clothes, any special foods, personal documents, valuables with you.
- Before you leave, make sure fires are off or out, switch off gas and electricity and lock up doors and windows.
Whatever the situation, is it is vital that you keep yourself informed.
The council and emergency services will provide updated information with regard to the ongoing situation. This will be available:
- on local radio stations
- on social media such as Twitter
- at Rest Centres or other facilities which may be set up
- on emergency services and/or Council websites
Rest Centres
A Rest Centre is a place of safety and shelter for evacuees. Whilst it would only be for a short-term duration it could, in certain circumstances, be required for overnight facilities.
This would be set up and managed by Moray Council with support from voluntary agencies. Other agencies will be brought in to provide specialist services if required.
The type of premises generally used for Rest Centre’s in Moray are typically community education centre’s or town or village halls.
The following support or services will be provided:
- registering and recording of evacuees to ensure they receive appropriate support
- catering
- arranging longer term accommodation provision
- first aid
- enabling contact with family and friends
- providing information on the emergency and its impacts
Accessing Information
Providing reliable and regular information to those affected by emergencies is a priority for all agencies.
During, and where possible ahead of an emergency, messages will be relayed over local and sometimes national radio and television networks, as well as other existing communication channels with communities, will be used to warn and inform you about incidents and emergencies in your area.
Information about current emergencies will be posted on this website, where there will also be links to related sites depending on the emergency. For example during a flood related emergency we may direct you to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and agencies that can advise on issues such as repairs to damaged property and insurance matters.
Getting Information
In the event of a major emergency, information to the public will be broadcast on national television and radio as well as local channels. You may also find updates from central government and local partners via social media. Listen out for emergency phone numbers.
Television
- BBC1
- BBC2
- STV/ITV
- Sky News
Radio:
- Moray Firth Radio
- Radio Scotland
Social Media:
Be a good neighbour and pass on information to those who may have missed the warnings and check on any neighbours requiring extra support
Severe Weather
Severe weather has the potential to cause danger to life or widespread disruption to communications or transportation.
The Met Office provides information through their National Severe Weather Warning Service and you can sign up for free email alerts to keep up to date with weather warnings.
Preparing for a flood
The prime responsibility for protecting property from flooding lies with the property owner.
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) can provide you with advance warning about when and where they are likely to occur through the Floodline service; which means that you can take action to limit the consequences for your home or business.
Flood warning information is also available by calling Floodline on: 0345 988 1188. You can also find information on what actions to take and how to prepare online.
The Scottish Flood Forum, is another source of useful information to prevent and prepare for flooding. Funded by the Scottish Government it works in partnership with SEPA and other relevant organisations.
They are a community based organisation, supporting and representing those affected by or ‘at risk’ of flooding.
They also provide flood information awareness, education and training (to all sectors) to reduce risk and assist in the recovery of flooding. Their website also provide helpful suggestions on preventing and preparing for flooding events.
During a flood
The responsibility for protecting property during a flood rests with the property owner and there is no statutory duty for a Local Authority to provide sandbags.
However, the council may, where resources and priorities allow, react to anticipated or reported incidents and provide assistance including sandbagging operations.
The Council will not generally provide sandbags in advance to communities at risk of flood inundation as a precautionary measure unless the forecast conditions and/or SEPA indicate a high level of risk.
For health and safety reasons, access to council depots will be controlled and limited. The Council may distribute pallets of sandbags to strategic points to allow the public to help themselves during flooding events.
Locations will be advised by the council's web site or via the Contact Centre (01343) 543451. Individuals who, due to for example age or disability, need assistance with accessing sandbags for self-help at strategic points, should get in touch with the council to request assistance.
Any individual wishing to purchase sandbags for private use should do so from a local builder's merchants or garden centre’s.
Electricity Power Cuts
Scottish and Southern Energy have prepared some useful advice on what to do in case there’s a power cut, and how to prepare.