Make an emergency plan

An emergency plan helps everyone in your household know what to do and where to go if something goes wrong. You don't need to plan for every scenario — a simple, practical plan covering the basics is enough.

Your plan should include:

• What to do if you need to leave your home quickly
• An agreed meeting point for your household
• Important contact numbers written down (not just stored on a phone)
• What to do if the power goes out
• Any specific needs for children, older adults, or people with health conditions

Ready Scotland provides a free downloadable template to help you fill in your own household plan.

Prepare an emergency kit

An emergency kit is a collection of essentials you can grab quickly, or rely on if you're stuck at home without power or running water. In Findochty, severe storms or coastal flooding could mean staying indoors for an extended period, so it's worth being prepared.

A basic household kit should include:

• Drinking water (at least 2 litres per person per day for several days)
• Non-perishable food and a manual tin opener
• Torch and spare batteries, or a wind-up torch
• Battery-powered or wind-up radio
• First aid kit and any essential medications
• Copies of important documents (insurance, prescriptions, ID)
• Warm clothing and a blanket
• Charged portable battery pack for your phone
• Cash in small denominations

Key emergency numbers

Write these down and keep them somewhere accessible - don't rely on your phone being charged or working.

For Moray Council out-of-hours calls, see what constitutes an emergency before calling.

Stay informed during an emergency

During an emergency, reliable information is as important as physical supplies. Stick to official sources and be cautious about sharing anything you haven't verified.

• Met Office - check weather warnings at metoffice.gov.uk or sign up for email alerts
• SEPA Floodline - register for free flood warning messages at myfloodline.sepa.scot
• UK Emergency Alerts - life-threatening alerts sent directly to your phone; no sign-up required
• Battery or wind-up radio - if power is out, local radio remains one of the most reliable sources of emergency information
• FCC Facebook page - we post local updates during significant weather events or community emergencies

Look out for your neighbours

Once you and your household are safe, think about those nearby who may need help - older residents, those living alone, people with health conditions, or families with young children.

Simple actions make a difference: checking in by phone, helping to secure property before a storm, or making sure a neighbour has important numbers written down. Findochty is a small community - looking out for each other is one of our greatest strengths.

If you'd like to be more formally involved in community emergency preparedness, find out about the Findochty Community Resilience Group.