Emergency Preparedness Advice from Chichester District Council
30 Days, 30 Ways Campaign - By taking just one step each day, you'll be better equipped to deal with whatever the months ahead may bring.
Published: 3 September 2026
District Dispatch from Cllr Jonathan Brown – Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment at Chichester District Council – 2 September 2026
This September, we’re supporting the 30 Days, 30 Ways campaign across our social media channels, encouraging everyone to take small, practical steps to improve emergency preparedness and resilience.
With heavier rainfall, sudden cold snaps, storms, and other extreme weather events becoming more common, taking a few simple precautions now can make a real difference when severe weather strikes.
There are many easy actions you can take to help protect yourself, as well as your family, home, garden, and business. We’ve gathered a range of useful tips to support you in getting ready for whatever the weather may bring. For example, if you experience a power cut during extreme weather, you can contact your electricity distribution operator by calling 105, which will connect you to the right team for your area.
Flooding remains one of the biggest weather-related risks. You can easily check the flood risk for your postcode at: www.gov.uk/check-long-term-flood-risk. If your home is in a flood-prone area, consider signing up for free flood warnings at:
www.gov.uk/sign-up-for-flood-warnings. These alerts can be sent by phone, email, or text message, giving you valuable advance notice of flooding from rivers, the sea, or groundwater where warning services are available.
In the event of flooding or another emergency, it’s important to know how to turn off your electricity, gas, and water supplies. These vary between properties, but gas shut-off valves are usually beside the meter, and the mains electricity cut-off is typically a large red switch on your fuse box. If you’re unsure where your water stopcock is, ask someone with practical experience or a plumber for help.
If you’re a vulnerable resident, you may be eligible to join the Priority Services Register with your utility provider. This gives you access to additional help if your electricity, gas, or water supply is disrupted during an emergency. You can find out more about this at: www.thepsr.co.uk.
Although preparation can reduce risks, severe weather can still cause unexpected damage. Reviewing your home insurance regularly will help ensure you have the right level of cover in place and provide peace of mind should the worst happen.
When strong winds are forecast, secure or store loose items such as garden furniture, bins, trampolines and plant pots, as these can quickly become hazards.
It is also worth checking for loose roof tiles, slates or flashing, and removing any dead or damaged branches from trees near your property. During autumn and winter, regularly clear leaves from gutters and drainpipes to prevent blockages that can lead to water damage.
Freezing temperatures can cause pipes and water tanks to freeze and burst, leading to costly repairs. Fitting good-quality insulation around exposed pipes and water tanks can help prevent damage and may also improve energy efficiency in your home.
For the very latest weather warnings, you can subscribe to the Met Office alerts at www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/subscribe-to-email-alerts. We also share important weather information, advice and updates through our social media channels.
If you have a smartphone, we recommend downloading the Chichester District Council app, available from the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app allows you to check your waste and recycling collection dates, set collection reminders, and receive updates if collections are disrupted by severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Be sure to enable notifications so you receive important updates directly to your device. Find out more at www.chichester.gov.uk/chichesterdcapp
By taking just one step each day, you’ll be better equipped to deal with whatever the months ahead may bring. For further useful information, visit: www.chichester.gov.uk/emergencies
If you use Facebook Messenger, you can also join our channel at www.messenger.com/channel/ChichesterDistrictCouncil, where we share important updates and messages directly. You can also follow our social media channels and visit www.chichester.gov.uk for the latest information.
Best wishes
Cllr Jonathan Brown
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment at Chichester District Council