Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it’s vital to know which types of emergencies could affect your area — from flooding or power outages to major incidents or terrorist attacks.
Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated, and establish a family meeting place that’s familiar, well-lit, and easy to find.

Step 1: Put a plan together

Discuss the questions below with your family, friends or household to start your emergency plan.

Ask yourselves:

How will we receive emergency alerts and warnings? (TV, radio, GOV.UK alerts, local authority notifications, or the ProtectUK app)

What is our shelter plan — do we stay put or move to safety?

What is our evacuation route if we need to leave home or work quickly?

What is our household communication plan if networks are down?

Do we need to update our emergency kit or digital documents (insurance, ID, medical details, etc.)?

Step 2: Consider specific needs in your household Tailor your plans and supplies to your family’s everyday living needs and responsibilities.

Think about:

Different ages and mobility levels within the household

Responsibilities for assisting older relatives, children or neighbours

Regular locations (school, workplace, care facility) and how to reunite

Dietary and allergy requirements

Medical needs, prescriptions and essential equipment (e.g. hearing aids, oxygen, mobility devices)

Disabilities or functional needs — plan for power cuts or lift failures

Languages spoken, cultural or religious considerations

Pets or service animals — food, leads, carriers and ID tags

Households with school-aged children — ensure the school has up-to-date emergency contact info

Create a support network of people you trust who can help with communication, childcare or specialist care if needed.

Step 3: Create a Family Emergency Plan

Make your Family Emergency Plan quickly and easily with our digital fillable form.

✅ Record key contacts (family, friends, GP, insurance, local council)
✅ Map primary and secondary meeting points (home, local safe zone, out-of-area contact)
✅ Store copies of passports, insurance and medical information securely — digital and paper
✅ Include emergency actions for fire, flood, severe weather, terrorism alerts and power loss

Make a Family Emergency Plan on SafetyDocs using our templates→

Step 4: Practice your plan

Rehearse it with your household at least twice a year.

Test your communication methods — including backup options if phones fail

Practice evacuating by day and night

Show children how to dial 999 and how to recognise trusted adults

Check your emergency kit and refresh batteries, water and food supplies

Review and update your plan after major changes (new job, school, pet, home move)

Helpful Tools & Resources

ProtectUK Guidance — official advice on staying safe in national emergencies

Environment Agency Flood Alerts

UK Government — Emergency Alerts

British Red Cross — Get Prepared

Local authority resilience pages — for local evacuation points and community hubs