Stay safe during Storm Babet

With Storm Babet approaching North Yorkshire, we thought it would be a good idea to provide some information and advice to help you prepare and how to respond in the event of an emergency.

Prepare a ‘Grab Bag’ of essential items

Every household is different, but this could include:

• Medication
• A torch
• Important documents such as insurance details and utility information
• Warm clothing
• Spare keys
• First aid kit
• Baby milk and nappies if there is a young child in your household
• Water
• Snacks
• Fully charged mobile, and if possible, a spare battery

Make a plan for your pet

If you have a pet, it may be worth considering:

• Is it safe for them to go outside? If not, how can I keep them indoors?
• In the event you need to evacuate, where would your pet go?
• Does your pet have any medication which they will need if spending time away from the property?
• Is there anything you can do to reduce stress or anxiety in your pet?
• Put together a ‘grab bag’ with food, insurance documents and any other essentials your pet may need
• Apply any identification tags or similar (this is also a good reminder to ensure your pet is microchipped)

Secure your property

If your property is liable to flooding, and it is safe to do so, please consider:

• Moving valuables and any furniture upstairs
• Collect all essential paperwork, including insurance documents, utility information etc and put them in a safe, dry place
• If you need to leave your property and it is possible, lock your doors and windows and ensure you keep your keys safe

When driving or walking outside

• Pay attention to road signs
• Only make essential journeys
• Take your ‘grab bag’ with you
• Check a website such as the Met Office or Traffic England to see how your route may be effected, and plan an alternative route if needed

Who to call if you need assistance?

Calling the correct agency will ensure the right people respond to you and other people who may also need help, across the county.

Fallen Trees: These can be a common problem when a storm arrives, and they often cause some confusion about who is responsible, so we hope the information below may help answer this.

• If a tree has fallen on a road BUT is NOT endangering life then you should call the local authority.
• If a tree has fallen on a road or a vehicle and IS endangering life, then please call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.
• If a tree has fallen on a property BUT is NOT endangering life, then this is the personal responsibility of the owner.
• If a tree has fallen on a property and IS endangering life, then please call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Unsafe Structure:

• An unsafe structure overhanding a public highway or public footpath or endangering life – call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service
• An unsafe structure overhanging property NOT endangering life – this is the personal responsibility of the owner

Flooding

• General flooding – wait for the water to subside
• Flooding with risk to life – call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service
• Flooding affecting electrics – only if it is safe to do so, isolate electrics BUT if in any doubt, call the fire and rescue service on 999

We hope this guide will help you make the right decisions about what to do during a storm, but if in any doubt, please call 999.

Stay safe out there, and remember, if you need us, we are only a phone call away.