Kelvedon Hatch Emergency Plan
If there is an immediate danger call 999
HMG Household Emergency Plan – download copy
We live in a relatively quiet and safe area. Emergencies are rare but we know from experience that they do happen and may have an impact on you, your family and friends, or business e.g.
• Power cuts, or disruption to gas or water supplies
• Flooding at home, on the roads or at your place of business
• Severe weather, storms, high winds or snow & ice
• Loss of telephone or internet services
• Evacuation from your home or business
• Being confined indoors at home, at work or somewhere else
• Unplanned separation from family members
• Becoming stranded or severely delayed in your car or on public transport
In the event of an emergency help would come from the blue-light services, the utilities, Brentwood Borough Council, and Essex County Council. The Parish Council would have a limited role, set out below:
I. Act as a focal point of information for both parishioners and incoming agencies such as police, fire, health, Essex/Brentwood services, and utilities.
II. Provide immediate short-term shelter and support for parishioners displaced from their home pending arrangements by Brentwood Borough Council.
What can you do as a resident? The government have prepared a ‘Household Emergency Plan’ template that can be downloaded at www.prepare.campaign.gov.uk and have suggested that you put together an emergency kit at home. Rather than buying everything at once you could collect things as you are able, including:
• Torch – torches are safer than candles.
• Portable power bank for charging your mobile phone.
• Radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.
• Spare batteries for torches and radio and a backup battery for any medical equipment you rely on.
• A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.
• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off.
• Bottled water – there is no standard figure for this as emergencies can vary in duration and people use different amounts. A minimum of 2.5-3 litres of drinking water per person per day is recommended by the World Health Organisation for survival. 10 litres per person per day will make you more comfortable by also providing for basic cooking and hygiene needs. Additional water might be needed to make up baby formula, for medical devices and for pets.
• Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets.
• Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready-made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles.
The above summary is taken from the following sources that can provide more information if required:
• Cabinet Office at www.prepare.campaign.gov.uk
• Essex Resilience Forum at www.essexprepared.co.uk
• Communities Prepared at https://www.communitiesprepared.org.uk
Councillor Tom Pine