What is happening?
Short cards for common emergencies. Each gives warning signs, when to stay or leave, the first actions and links to the full steps. Always follow your local authorities first.
- Long blackout: Mains power is off across your area and there is no firm time for it to return.
- Heatwave: Days and nights are far hotter than normal and heat illness becomes a real risk, especially for the old, very young and sick.
- Extreme cold and winter storm: Snow, ice or severe cold make travel dangerous and heating, power or water supplies may fail.
- Flood: Rivers, sea or heavy rain are flooding, or about to flood, streets and homes.
- Wildfire and smoke: A wildfire is burning nearby or heavy smoke from distant fires is filling the air.
- Storm or cyclone: A tropical cyclone, hurricane, typhoon or severe windstorm is forecast to hit your area.
- Earthquake: The ground is shaking or has just shaken hard, and aftershocks may follow.
- Pandemic or infectious disease: A contagious disease is spreading widely and health authorities are asking people to limit contact.
- Water contamination or outage: The tap water is unsafe, under an official advisory, or has stopped flowing.
- Fuel and supply shortage: Fuel, food or other goods are scarce or rationed and deliveries are unreliable.
- Chemical incident (shelter in place): A chemical leak, spill or fire has released dangerous fumes into the air near you.