On Monday 12th January 2009, a national campaign was launched to promote emergency planning. 'What If' was a three-day campaign, broadcast through local BBC radio stations, designed to help better prepare local communities for floods, chemical leaks and other challenges.

What if floodwater was lapping at your front door? What if there was a chemical leak and you needed to evacuate your home in the middle of the night? Would you know what to do?

What about your family and friends who live away - maybe due to work or university? Perhaps you have elderly parents in another part of the country or a vulnerable neighbour down the street. Could they cope during an emergency?

The 'What If' campaign was designed to help you and your family be better prepared to face some of the challenges life can throw at us.

We cannot prepare for every single eventuality but there are some common problems that might result from flooding or fire - power failures, loss of water supply or loss of communications like telephones - for which we can prepare.

Between Monday January 12th and Wednesday January 14th 2009, BBC Southern Counties Radio were joined by experts from East and West Sussex Fire & Rescue Services, local emergency planning departments, Sussex Police, the Environment Agency and other local Authorities,

Representatives from these agencies provided the public with some simple measures that could help the public cope with the risk of flooding, fire and chemical leaks:

Chemical Incidents

'Go in, Stay in and Tune in'
The following advice summarises and reinforces that information:

If you hear a warning siren or radio announcement, go into a house or building straight away
Close all external doors; turn off all ventilation and central heating systems
Close all windows and curtains
Stay in a room away from the industrial area, preferably upstairs
Tune into your local radio station to receive information and instructions
Do not ring the emergency services, unless you have a medical emergency, as their phone lines need to be kept clear
Please co-operate with any instructions given by the emergency services
Stay indoors until you hear the all clear message (either on the radio or via a long single blast of siren) or you receive instructions from the emergency services
On receiving the all clear, doors and windows can then be opened and ventilation restored

Flooding
Develop your own emergency flood plan in advance of actual flooding.

Flooding happens quickly and often when you least expect it. It's easy to lose each other at time like this. Preparing an emergency flood plan will help you through a serious situation. Creating the plan with your children, explaining what to do and even practicing the plan will prepare them for the time when you may need it.

Your flood plan
Prepare for flooding. Use this checklist as your flood plan. Start using it today, before a flood happens

1. Check your insurance cover
   • Check your insurance cover
   • Confirm you are covered for flooding
   • Confirm you are covered for flooding
   • Find out if the policy replaces new for old and if it has a limit on repairs
2. Know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies
   • Ask your supplier how to do this
   • Ask your supplier how to do this
3. Prepare a flood kit of essentials items
   • Copies of your home insurance documents
   • A torch with spare batteries
   • A wind-up or battery radio
   • Warm, waterproof clothing and blankets
   • A first aid kit and prescription medication
   • Bottled water and non-perishable foods
   • Baby food and baby care items
   • A list of important contact numbers including Floodline 0845 988 1188
   • Keep your flood kit handy. Make sure your family knows where it is kept
4. Know who to contact and how
   • Agree where you will go and how to contact each other
   • Keep a list with all your important contacts to hand
5. Think about what you can move now
   • Don't wait for a flood. Move items of personal value such as photo albums, family videos and treasured mementos to a safe place
6. Think about what you would want to move to safety during a flood
   • Outdoor pets
   • Keep important documents upstairs
   • Cars
   • Furniture
   • Electrical equipment
   • Garden pot plants and furniture
   • What else?

Fire

Fire safety tips:
Remind yourself of the fire safety basics. The following tips will help you to make your home safer from fire.

Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home
Test the batteries in your alarm once a week. Never remove them.
Avoid leaving children in the kitchen alone when cooking on the hob - keep matches and saucepan handles out of their reach
Take care when cooking with hot oil
Don't overload sockets - try to keep one plug per socket
Stub cigarettes out properly and dispose of them carefully. Put them out, right out!
Ensure candles are secured in a proper holder and kept away from curtains or fabrics
Plan an escape route and make sure everyone knows how to escape
Don't tackle fires yourself - get out and stay out and call 999
Make a bedtime check of your home before you go to bed - you are more at risk from a fire when asleep.
Close inside doors at night to prevent a fire from spreading

For more information about home fire safety, or if you would like to arrange a free home safety visit, please contact the Community Safety Team on 0800 1777069