Emergency Planning and Response

What can communities do to help themselves?

While every effort will be made to emergency responders to help a community during an incident, unfortunately resources may be stretched or some time away. Communities are encouraged to prepare for emergencies and to consider how they can support each other.

Devon County Council has been working with Devon Communities Together to set up the Devon Community Resilience Forum. Guidance, Templates and Case Studies on writing a community emergency plan and the forum also provides contact with others who have already written their plan who may be able to help you.

What can residents do to prepare for emergencies?

The Preparing for Emergencies Guidance which can be found here gives advice on how to help protect yourself, your family and home in an emergency such as:

  • Flood
  • Fire
  • Storm
  • Power cut
  • Gas leak

There is also a template which can be used to prepare a personal flood plan.

The important things to remember are:

Do you know how to contact the rest of your family in an emergency? Where will you meet if you are separated?

Have you got an emergency bag? Do you know what you might need for up to 72 hours out of your home?

Examples include:

  • Warm waterproof clothes
  • Medication
  • Torch
  • Wind-up radio
  • Toys for children and pets
  • Mobile phone chargers
  • First aid Kit
  • Food
  • Money and credit cards

Make sure you have moved important documents such as those below to a safe place.

  • Important legal documents (cross out if not applicable)
  • Birth certificate(s), adoption papers, marriage certificate or divorce papers
  • Social security card(s); National Insurance Number
  • Passport; Identity card; Naturalisation documents
  • Last will and testament; Living will
  • Power of attorney
  • Property deeds and titles (home, car etc.)

Important financial documents

  • Tax statements (minimum previous year)
  • Statements from financial accounts
  • List of sources of income
  • List of Financial obligations
  • Insurance information

Medical information

  • Health insurance / NHS information
  • Record of immunisations/allergies and a list of necessary medications