If an emergency happened tonight, would you be ready?

If the power went off tonight and stayed off for three days, how would your household manage?

Could you keep warm, find a torch, have something to eat and stay informed? What if your phone battery ran out, your water supply was interrupted, or flooding meant you had to leave home?

Storms, flooding and disruption to essential services can affect everyday life with little warning. A few simple preparations now can make a difficult situation easier to manage.

Dunoon Community Council encourages everyone to take a little time to think about their household, make a plan and look out for those around them.

Take ten minutes to think through these questions with the people you live with, or someone you trust:

• How would you manage without electricity, heating or running water?
• How would you contact each other if phones or the internet were unavailable?
• Where could you stay if you had to leave home?
• Does anyone depend on medication, electrical medical equipment, mobility aids or regular care?
• What would your children or pets need?
• Is there a neighbour who might need help—or someone you could ask for help yourself?

Write down important telephone numbers and agree a meeting place. Keep a paper copy somewhere easy to find.

Our Dunoon Community Council Household Emergency Plan booklet includes space to record your arrangements and useful contacts. Complete your copy and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is.

Ready Scotland recommends keeping three days’ supplies of food and bottled water as part of a home emergency kit. Build this up gradually, within your budget, using familiar items that you can use and replace.

Useful essentials include:

• Drinking water and food that keeps well and does not need cooking, plus a manual tin opener.
• A torch with spare batteries, or a wind-up torch.
• A charged power bank and phone charging lead.
• A battery-powered or wind-up radio.
• Warm clothing and blankets.
• Essential medication, a first aid kit and basic toiletries.
• Supplies for babies, pets and any particular health or accessibility needs.

Keep essentials together where you can find them in the dark. Check batteries, expiry dates and medication arrangements regularly.

Three days is a useful starting point for preparation, not a promise that services will be restored within 72 hours. Adapt your arrangements to your household’s needs.

See Ready Scotland’s emergency kit advice.

Use torches or battery lights, keep warm, and keep fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Conserve your phone battery and use a battery radio for information if you cannot get online.

Call 105 to report a power cut or get information, or visit SSEN’s power cuts and emergency information.

Never use barbecues or outdoor camping stoves inside your home. They can produce deadly carbon monoxide. Read the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s power-cut safety advice.

If you may need extra help during a power cut, check whether you can join SSEN’s free Priority Services Register. If you depend on powered medical equipment, discuss a power-cut plan with your care team or equipment provider in advance.

Check the forecast early and give yourself time to prepare.

• Sign up for SEPA Floodline messages and check   UK Met Office Weather Warnings 
• Charge phones and power banks.
• If safe, move essential medication, important documents and valuables above likely flood levels.
• Have essential items ready in a small bag in case you need to leave.
• Follow advice from the emergency services and local authority.

Do not walk or drive through floodwater. It can be deeper, faster and more dangerous than it looks. Stay away from exposed shorelines during storms.

If told to evacuate, leave promptly. Do not put yourself at risk trying to protect belongings.

Read Ready Scotland’s flooding advice. You can also call SEPA Floodline on 0345 988 1188.

A simple conversation before an emergency can make a real difference. Exchange contact details with a trusted neighbour and agree how you might check on each other.

Think particularly about people who live alone, have limited mobility, need regular care or cannot easily access online information. Check on others only when it is safe to do so.

During an incident, follow instructions from the emergency services and use official updates. Check information before sharing it.

These are useful places to start:

• Ready Scotland — Scottish Government advice on preparing your household and community.
• UK Government Prepare — practical steps, household planning and emergency supplies.
• Argyll and Bute Council — local emergency information and contacts.

If someone is in immediate danger or needs an emergency response, call 999.

Do one thing today: find your torch, charge your power bank, write down your contacts or speak to a neighbour. A little preparation now can make a big difference when you need it.