What to do in an emergency

There are lots of ways that you can prepare before an emergency happens. Here are some simple steps you can take:

• make a list of important contact details for example family, friends, neighbours, GP, veterinary surgery and public utility companies
• sign up to the Met Office for weather warnings
• get flood warnings by text, phone or email
• check if you’re eligible for the Priority Services Register (PSR) that is a free service providing extra advice and support, including when there’s an interruption to your electricity, gas or water supply.

It’s important to know:

• how to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies
• how to tune your radio to local stations
• how your family will stay in contact in the event of an emergency
• how to make up an emergency grab bag
• the emergency procedures for your children at school

It is useful to have bottled water, ready to eat food and a bottle/tin opener in the event you are required to remain in your home for several days.

Whether you need to stay in your home or leave, it’s also useful to have an emergency bag, also known as a grab bag. Keep this bag in an easy to reach place and let your household know where it is.

Things to include in the grab bag:

• a wind-up torch (or torch and spare batteries)
• bottled water
• non-perishable food / snacks
• spare glasses / hearing aid batteries
• spare car and house keys
• spare phone / other chargers / small battery pack
• spare pet supplies (like a lead and some food)
• a written list of key contacts and information (passport numbers, insurance information, medication details)
• first aid kit
• spare clothes
• blankets
• toiletries
• hand sanitiser
• baby formula / nappies / nappy wipes
• children’s entertainment
• wind up radio (or battery powered)

Meeting place

If you need to leave your home suddenly, you may want to have an agreed place to meet friends/family. Discuss with your household where you would go if you had to leave your home, for example go to a friend’s house or a specific hotel.

Follow the advice given by blue-light agencies (police, fire, ambulance) and your local authority and keep up to date with the local news.

If you need to evacuate

• turn off your utilities (if you can)
• collect your grab bag (and the things to grab as you evacuate)
• contact your friends and family to let them know where you are going
• when you have reached a safe location, let your friends and family know you’re safe

In an emergency, there will be people in your community who may need some additional support (such as the elderly, those with English as a second language, or those with disabilities or temporary impairments). If safe to do so, check on family, friends and neighbours.

If you are at home when an emergency happens, and you don’t have a grab bag, get together the following:

• the list of your important contact details
• home and car keys
• cash and credit cards
• mobile phone
• battery radio - with spare batteries
• torch - with spare batteries, candles and matches
• first aid kit
• toiletries and any regularly prescribed medication

Who to contact in an emergency

• Emergency services 999 (if life is at risk)
• NHS - dial 111
• Hampshire Constabulary (non emergency) 101
• Hampshire Fire and Rescue (non emergency) 023 8038 6390
• North Hampshire Hospital (accident and emergency department) 01256 473202
• Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (24 hours a day) 01256 844844
• Hampshire County Council, Hants Direct (Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, Saturday, 9am to 4pm) 0845 603 5638
• Environment Agency Floodline 0345 988 1188
• National Flood Forum (for flood defence advice) 01299 403 055
• Gas leaks 0800 111 999
• Electricity - dial 105

Your local water company

• Thames Water (covering the Tadley area) 0800 316 9800
• South East Water (covering Basingstoke town area) 0333 000 0001
• Southern Water (covering Kingsclere, Overton, Whitchurch and Woodhay) 0330 303 0368

Drainage problems

• Thames Water (covering Tadley and Basingstoke town centre) 0800 316 9800
• Southern Water (covering anything west of Basingstoke town centre) 0330 303 0368

• If you feel unwell or are injured, contact your GP or call 111
• If you have evacuated, ensure it’s safe before you return home
• Check with someone qualified before turning on your utilities (electricity, gas, water)
• Take photos of any damage before you start to tidy and clean up (this is important for insurance purposes)
• Report any damage or problems to the relevant authorities or providers.
• Check in with family, friends and neighbours.
• Learn from the incident. Write a list of the key actions you needed to take based on what you experienced, so that you are better prepared in case it happens again

Mental health support

• Contact your GP or call NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice.
• Victim support provides a free 24/7 confidential support line on 0800 168 9111 or via their website in live chat.

Support for children

Childline offers free online counselling on 0800 1111

If you would like this information in a printed booklet format, please contact customerservice@basingstoke.gov.uk

Our role in a major incident is to support the emergency services and then to help return life to normal as soon as possible.

To achieve this, we will:

• Respond to requests from the emergency services to assist in response to major incidents
• Mobilise our staff to carry out task requests by the emergency services. Depending on the scale and type of incident, this may include:
• establishing an Emergency Control Centre to co-ordinate our response;
• working with Hampshire County Council to set up rest centres to provide transport, shelter, food and information to people evacuated from the vicinity of a major incident;
• providing advice on the temporary re-housing of people who are unable to return to their homes;
• providing information to the public and the media;
• assisting in cleaning up the area affected by a major incident.
• Co-ordinate our response with Hampshire County Council, other local authorities, town and parish councils and the voluntary sector;
• As far as possible, keep our everyday council services running despite diversion of staff and other resources to handling of the incident;
• Helping the community to recover and to return life to normal.

West Berkshire is home to two Atomic Weapons Establishments (AWE) sites, located in Aldermaston and Burghfield. Both sites are managed by AWE PLC.

West Berkshire Council is responsible for producing an off-site plan to comply with Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2019 (REPPIR).

A public information leaflet which explains what to do in the event of an incident at AWE.

As a resident within the areas surrounding AWE, you can sign up for emergency notification alerts.

Further information can be found on the West Berkshire Council website.