Prepare for an emergency

Emergencies can happen without warning. Taking a few simple steps now can help you and your family prepare for situations such as power cuts, severe weather and flooding.

Be Ready: Prepare for an emergency

The UK Government's Be Ready campaign provides practical advice to help you prepare for emergencies.

Find out how to prepare yourself, your family and your home.

Prepare an emergency kit

It's a good idea to have an emergency kit ready at home and in your car, just as you would a first aid kit.

Your kit could include:

  • A battery-powered or wind-up torch
  • A lamp
  • A battery-powered radio
  • Spare batteries
  • Food that provides plenty of energy
  • Bottled water
  • Warm clothing
  • Pet food and supplies, if needed
  • A power bank and phone charging cables
  • Any medication you need

Keep important phone numbers somewhere you can easily find them, including contact details for your family, the emergency services, the council and utility companies.

Make sure you know where to turn off your gas, electricity and water supplies if needed.

Prepare for a power cut

Power cuts can happen for different reasons, including during emergencies.

Thinking about how you'd manage without electricity can help you prepare.

Lighting

Battery-powered or wind-up torches and LED candles are safer than traditional candles.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service provides advice about:

Phones and other devices

If you know a power cut is coming, make sure your phone and other devices are fully charged.

A power bank or battery-powered charger can help keep your devices charged if the electricity goes off.

Keeping warm

If your heating stops working or you need to leave your home, you can help keep warm by:

  • Wearing several thin layers of clothing instead of one thick layer.
  • Wearing a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside.
  • Choosing wool or fleece clothing. Cotton is only effective at keeping you warm when it stays dry.
  • Wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night.

Food and drink

If you know a power cut is coming, you can prepare by:

  • Filling flasks with hot drinks, soup or hot water.
  • Keeping tinned food or other food that doesn't need cooking, particularly if you rely on electricity to prepare meals.

Keeping in touch

A battery-powered radio can help you stay informed during an emergency.

If you have internet access, you can also follow Oldham Council for updates:

Get extra support during a power cut

Electricity North West offers a free Extra Care Register for people who may need additional help if their electricity supply is interrupted.

You may be eligible if you:

  • Have reached State Pension age.
  • Have a disability or long-term health condition.
  • Are recovering from an injury.
  • Have a hearing or sight condition.
  • Have a mental health condition.
  • Are pregnant or have young children.
  • Have additional communication needs, including difficulties speaking or reading English.
  • Use medical equipment that needs electricity.
  • Have a poor or no sense of smell.
  • Would find it difficult to answer the door or get help in an emergency.

You may also qualify for other reasons, including if you need temporary support after leaving hospital.

Electricity North West can also let your gas and water providers know that you may need extra support if those supplies are disrupted.

Prepare for flooding

If you live in an area at risk of flooding, it's important to plan ahead.

Check your flood risk

You can check whether your home could be affected by flooding and find information about current and long-term risks.

Sign up for flood warnings

If your home is in an area at risk of flooding, you can sign up for free flood warnings by phone, email or text.

You can also contact the Environment Agency's Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

Make a plan

Flooding can happen quickly, so it's important to think about what you would do if you needed to leave your home.

Consider:

  • Which belongings you could move to protect them from flooding.
  • What important documents, medication and clothing you would need to take.
  • Where you, your family and your pets could go to stay safe.

Find more information on our Flooding page.

Prepare for freezing weather

Cold weather can cause problems with water pipes.

Our Problems with frozen water pipes page explains what to do if your pipes freeze.

It also includes information about United Utilities' Priority Services scheme, which offers extra support to customers who may need it.

Prepare your pets for an emergency

It's important to think about your pets when making emergency plans.

You can find advice about preparing your pets for natural disasters, including what you might need to take with you.