North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service published safety advice for households on 19 October 2023, as Storm Babet approached North Yorkshire. The service said it wanted to help people prepare and to explain how to respond in an emergency.
The advice sets out what a household "grab bag" of essential items could contain. The service lists medication, a torch, important documents such as insurance details and utility information, warm clothing, spare keys, a first aid kit, baby milk and nappies if there is a young child in the household, water, snacks, and a fully charged mobile with a spare battery if possible. It notes that every household is different.
For pet owners, the service suggests considering whether it is safe for animals to go outside and, if not, how to keep them indoors; where a pet would go in the event of an evacuation; whether the pet has medication needed if spent time away from the property; and what could reduce stress or anxiety in the pet. It also suggests a pet grab bag with food, insurance documents and other essentials, identification tags, and describes the guidance as a good reminder to ensure a pet is microchipped.
For properties liable to flooding, and where it is safe to do so, the service suggests moving valuables and furniture upstairs, collecting essential paperwork including insurance and utility information into a safe, dry place, and, if leaving the property is possible, locking doors and windows and keeping keys safe. When driving or walking outside, it advises paying attention to road signs, making only essential journeys, taking the grab bag, and checking a website such as the Met Office or Traffic England to see how a route may be affected and to plan an alternative if needed.
The service also sets out who to call for storm hazards:
| Situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Tree fallen on a road, not endangering life | The local authority |
| Tree fallen on a road or vehicle, endangering life | 999, ask for the Fire and Rescue Service |
| Tree fallen on a property, not endangering life | Personal responsibility of the owner |
| Tree fallen on a property, endangering life | 999, ask for the Fire and Rescue Service |
| Unsafe structure overhanging a public highway or footpath, or endangering life | 999, ask for the Fire and Rescue Service |
| Unsafe structure overhanging property, not endangering life | Personal responsibility of the owner |
| General flooding | Wait for the water to subside |
| Flooding with risk to life | 999, ask for the fire and rescue service |
| Flooding affecting electrics | Isolate electrics only if it is safe to do so; if in any doubt, call 999 |
"With Storm Babet approaching North Yorkshire, we thought it would be a good idea to provide some information and advice to help you prepare and how to respond in the event of an emergency."
Why it matters for households
The advice applies to households across North Yorkshire as Storm Babet affects the county. It sets out what the fire service says households may wish to prepare in advance, how to plan for pets and how to protect property in flood-prone areas, and it divides responsibility for storm damage between the local authority, property owners and the emergency services. The service's closing line is that if in any doubt, people should call 999.
The service's guidance sits alongside the site's Storms, Snow and Ice: A Household Guide, which covers household preparation for storms, and the emergency kit pages for kit planning.
What happens next
No further steps or dates have been reported.
Sources (1)
- Stay safe during Storm Babet - North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, northyorksfire.gov.uk
Snow and Ice Household Guide
